ABELS SACRIFICE.

OUr Saviour Christs negative ab initio non fuit sic, Mat. 19.8. was a full confutation of the Phari­sees mistake in the case of Divorcement; and the affirmative, ab initio fuit sic, is here the Apostles confirmation of his former theses, and conclusi­ons; the one Cap. 10.38. the other in this Chap­ter verse the first, which though it be not expressed, is virtually implyed; the whole Fabrick of his discourse beares on that foundation; and all the subsequent examples, are but so many Morall evidences and demonstrations of those holy truths: And that they were so from the beginning, he fetcheth his proofes from the beginning of Piety; all your forefathers lived by Faith, Faith was to them the subsistence of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; and therefore if you be Belee­vers, your Faith will give you life, also will be to you the sub­stance, &c. From the beginning of the World till this present Century, you may be furnished with faire Presidents to verifie these truths for your satisfaction, and to exemplifie them to you for your observation: those primitive spirits (if your spirits be teachable and pliant) will learn you the doctrines and obe­dience of Faith, will leave on your Soules a perswasion of the truth of those truths, and also work on your spirits an habituall attendance on God, and resignation of your selves to God, and a conformity to his holy will: In briefe, Their Piety will in­struct you what and how to beleeve; begin with the World, [Page 2]and fetch your proofes downewards, and you shall finde the An­cients to beleeve the Propositions, both in thesi and hypothesi; they embraced them for truthes, and applyed them to their se­verall uses, both by active and passive obedience, even before men began to call upon God, Gen. 4.26. that is, in solemne Assemblies, and Publique manner to worship God; you have this exemplified in Abel, the first Patterne of patience, and practioner of Piety; the first Martyr and Canonized Saint, whose Faith engaged him to Sacrifice, to present this Sacrifice to God; and because an Oblation to God, therefore a great ex­cellent Sacrifice it was; and for this Act he was approved by God, and is famous with men; both God and Man to this day speaks of him with honourable Titles. Abel the Just, Abel the Righteous, By Faith offered, &c.

The Method I shall observe in this and the following Dis­courses, will be one and the same, and so throughout I shall endeavour,

• 1. To explain, and deliver the sense of the Text, with refe­rence to the History from whence the Words of the Text are taken.
• 2. To propose such Doctrinall inferences, and practicall deductions, as I shall observe and conclude from the Text.
• 3. To provoke your Devotion with a Prayer and Medita­tion, upon the chiefest observable in the Text, or that which was principally entended by the holy Apostle.

For the first,

By Faith: The Offering was the prescript and injunction of Faith, not actus elicitus fidei, for the proper and immediate Act of Faith▪ is beliefe; but actus imperatus, an Act which issued from beliefe and was commanded by it; Thus visiting the Fatherlesse and Widdow, Jaw. 1.27. as an ingredient in the Apostles description of pure Religion; not as this were an Act of Religion, in the most strict restrained sense, as Religion, is the duty of adoration, not as it signifies, the performance of the direct and proper offices of his honour and worship, admi­ring his perfections, magnifying him in his Attributes; or having familiar entercourse with him; but in a more large extended sense, as it is an inseparable adjunct, or convincing argument [Page 3]of Religion, without which, no man can justly pretend to Re­ligion, or be denominated Religious.

He offered to God a Sacrifice; This Law of Sacrificing was ab initio, of long standing in the Church of God; the first man, without doubt, and the first holy men practised it, long be­fore the Mosaicall Ordinances, sacrificiary was an institution of Piety; 'Tis true, we Reade not of Adams Sacrificing, perhaps because no such notable occurrent happened therein, as in the Oblations of his Sons; yet that he practised and taught his sons this duty, may with much probability be asserted; Nature, un­doubtedly, taught him this Law, in as much, as the most gene­rous Heathenish spirits, with an unanimous consent, have Voted it an Honour due to God, and did precisely observe it, as is suffi­ciently proved.

But Abel not onely offered a Sacrifice; but its noted, for an excellent Sacrifice, a more excellent Sacrifice then Cains; a dif­ference there was betwixt their Sacrifices, and a great one too; there was excellency, greatnesse in the one, obtulit majorem ho­stiam, so Beza, Plurimam, so the old Translation Reades it; [...]; so the Originall: there was no excellency, nor greatnesse in the other, for it was rejected.

Interpreters have travelled long to enquire wherein the ex­cellencie of Abels Sacrifice consisted, and to discover the diffe­rence of the Oblations, and to finde a reason, why God accepted Abels, disapproved Cains Sacrifice.

I shall acquaint you with some of their discoveries, and will not presume to determine, which are reall, which imaginary; perhaps they are all imperfect; neither dare I prescribe to others, but desires of them a Travellers indifferencie, to choose what they finde safest: onely I shall enterpose this consideration, That God is no respector of Persons, his judgements are in the deep, and his wayes past finding out; and though his judgements are many times secret, yet they alwaies proceed upon the in­fallible rules of justice and equity; and where our reason can­not finde out an unquestionable reason of his procedures, yet it is all the reason in the World, to beleeve and acknowledge God to be most wise, most just, most holy. But this in generall, though it will not silence a proud cavilling disputant, will yet [Page 4]satisfie a sober modest Christian; That Cains prophanenesse, or hypocrisie, or preconceived hatred of his Brother, spoyled the Religion of his Sacrifice, and deprived him of the reward of his service; and that Abels innocency, sincerity, and devotion, was as incense to his sacrifice, as Fire from Heaven to hallow it, to give it a sweet smelling savour; and in this resolution there can be no danger: I am sure it is according to the plain rule of Scri­pture; peruse these following Texts, and apply them,

Gen. 4.7. 1 Sam. 15.21.22. Prov. 15.8. and 21.27. Isap 66.3. Am. 5.21.

But to return, The Jews derive the excellency of Abels Ob­lation from it selfe, the matter offered, or subject of the offring; which (say they) was according to the rule and estimate of things prisable, of more value then Cains: and the Crime which they charge on Cain, was Covetousnesse: the Virtue they ascribe to Abel, was Liberality. 'Tis true, God loves a giver like him­selfe, liberall and bountifull; the Covetous (whose almes, if he give any, is in Senica's Phrase, Panis lapidos [...]e, and whose ex­pences for Gods service, or Temple, are Sesses, not Free-will Offerings) God abhors: yet it also as true, which the Heathen hath observed, God regardeth not how full hands we bring him, but how pure: he values not our Offerings, because they are either many, or rich; but because they be holy: reasonable ser­vices of him, [...], as Arist. l. 4. Aeth. c 1. But yet this comes not home, is no full discovery; for though it be most certain, That covetousnesse is an abomination, a filthi­nesse able to pollute any sacrifice, or holy duty; and that Libe­rality is highly prized and rewarded by the Almighty: yet 'its evident from the Text, That their Offerings were of the diffe­rent returnes with which God had blessed their labours, in their respective civill Callings and conditions of life: and therefore, in respect of this difference, the reason lies not of their different respect with God.

Others from that Clause, Gen. 4.3. [In processe of time] con­ceive Cains Crime, was slacknesse, or dulnesse, in the perfor­mance of his duty: and indeed, we ought not to be remisse, or negligent to pay our vowes; God loves cheerefulnesse and ala­crity of spirit in his service: But in the Scripture, we find not [Page 5] Cain criminall on this score, for by the context it appears they both offered in the same order, and at the same time; and that phrase imployes not any slownesse, but onely indefinitely, notes a determinate time.

Others fetch the difference from the yet undiscovered paths of God; eternall decree: Abel was an Elect, Cain a Reprobate: Abel a justified Person. Cain not; and therefore Abels sacrifice was sanctified Cains not. But (under correction▪ and with sub­mission to abler judgements) I conceive the former part no Discovery; 'its an unknown passage to us, and God hath not admitted us unto his secret resolves, but his Revealed Counsel [...] are for us and for our Children; and that his Decree infuseth no goodnesse or badnesse into the actions of men: an action is called good, from its conformity to the rule, that I am sure it Gods revealed will; and bad from its obliquity, or deviation from it and its goodnesse, or badnesse, depends on the rectitude, or crookednesse of mans will: And for the other part of the supposition, with the premised reference, I conceive no man justified, but he is sanctified also; yet no man justified▪ before sanctified: For faith which is required as the condition of our being justified, must necessarily in order of nature be before ju­stification; this presupposeth Faith, which certainly includes re­pentance, and conversion to God; yea it selfe is an act of sancti­fication: and the promises of mercy are, as to Beleevers, so to sincere Penitents; He that forsaketh his sinnes, shall finde mer­cy, Prov. 28 13. so that neither of these surmizes states the case, nor gives a cleare resolution to the Quaere.

Others, because Gen. 4.4. it is emphatically said of Abel, he brought his Firstlings, and his fat: but of Cains verse 3. without any further expression, or addition▪ nakedly, He brought, &c. have conjectured these expressions the clearest notes of discri­mination: for (say they) the Scripture never addes such cir­cumstantials, but for distinction, or for an addition of honour, or an elogie: and however faith made the highest difference, yet the effects of Abels faith were great, and holy▪ warming his spirit with much devotion, and perswading him to such a choice, as might at once both expresse what great blessings he had [...]e­ceived from the good hand of God on his labours; and also [Page 6] testifie what reverend and holy thoughts of Gods Soveraigne Majesty, had taken his spirit; and Cains infidelity, made his Sacrifice a Sacrifice of flesh, without devotion, without any respective consideration of the holinesse of the employment and therefore, he took, he offered what was next at hand, with­out any more to doe.

This interpretation is pious, proper, and pertinent, and were I resolved to be affirmative, I would thus resolve the Point; For in our adresses and offering to God, we should compose out mindes to serious thoughts of his greatnesse, wisedome, power goodnesse, and elevate them to the highest pitch, raise them to the highest note, and thus prepare our selves to the offices o [...] his worship and service. But this supposeth somewhat, which should be proved more clearely then a supposition will beare but whether the excellency of Abels oblation above Cains arose from the Persons of the offerers, or their intentions in offering, from the substance and subject matter of the Sacrifices or from the qualities, and adjunct thereof; this we are sure of, God de­livered his Judgement, and gave Abels the excellency; for he witnessed that he was righteous; he testified of his gifts, and whether from his faith, or from his oblation he was pronounced righteous, it is all one, seeing his oblation was an obedientiall act of faith; his faith engaged and obliged him to present his oblation to God, and his oblation evidenced, and proved his faith before God and Men; Faith sanctified his Offering, and his Offering shewed his Faith, and Gods testimoniall approved both. Abel stands upon Record in the Rolles of Heaven, and Earth, known and dignified with the Titles of, Abel the Just, Abel the Righteous.

But now, if it be here enquired, by what signall evidence God testified of his gifts, or how God declared that he was Righteous, I shall propose the severall guesses of Commentaries, and leave the Reader to the former indifferency I granted him: Some conceive, God manifested his approbation by the descent by Fire from Heaven upon his Sacrifice, in such manner as we Reade Lev. 9.24. and its not altogether improbable; for as Cains Sacrifice was a Meat-offering, Lev. 2. so Abels was a Peace-offering, Lev. 3. such as that of Moses and Aaron, Lev. 9. [Page 7]So also the 2 Chron. 7.1. Others by his Word, in a Vocall ex­pression, God then communicating his will to his servants in that method. Others, That God expressed his acceptance of Abels Sacrifice by an after benediction on his stock and labors, making them to thrive and prosper more abundantly then was ordinary: but however it was, very likely it is, God declared his approbation by some visible signe, then at the time of his offering and since by his servant Moses, who hath Regi [...]red it to all Posterity, for his Honour, and their example; he had not onely Gods testimoniall, but now hath mans; now he is, and ever fince he hath been of happy memory▪ and high repute in the Church: for it followes, he yet speaketh.

Which expression is also capable of different interpretations.

• 1. The examples of the godly departed, and their worthy Acts speak lowd in the eares of Posterity, and call upon them for imitation; they were Written, they are still Read for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, 1 Cor. 10.11 their language powerfull in Rhetoricke; they teach both what to decline, what to follow; those dead examples serves as ecchoes, redoubling and sounding the actions of their holy lives; and it was the Piety of the first times to enjoyne, and of after ages to retaine in the Church the memorialls of the first Founders of the Christian faith, not so much to honour them, as to glorifie God in and for them▪ and to gaine the following Generations, to follow their holy lives and faith.
• 2. This may seem to allude to Gen 4.10, as this same Apo­stle doth, Heb. 12.24. and if so, then it instructs us, That God is concerned and engaged in the sufferings and deaths of his Abels, who dye in the Lord, or suffer for his holy truthes; their blood cryes loude in his eares for revenge, and one day or other, he will hearken to the voyce of their cry, and recompence the ungodly after their deservings, as it happened to the Amale­kites, 1 Sam. 15.2.3.
• 3. The world [...], hath a Passive signification, and im­ports, to be famous renowned, celebrated, or spoken of; and so its rendred, Mat. 26.13. be told or spoken of; his oblation, his faith, and Gods testimoniall of both, shall be had in everlasting remembrance; such honour have all his Saints, to have their [Page 8]memories, their actings, and sufferings, preserved and magnifi­ed in the Church of God from Generation to Generation; we have the blessed Virgin Mary enforming us of her renowne to all Ages, Luk. 1.48.49. Death removes their bodies, not their vertues; takes away their lives, not their precious memories; they after speak to us to imitate them, and in a pious and grate­full commemoration to speake of them, and prayse God for them; this is their happinesse, they live time out of minde in Heaven, by the beatificall Vi [...]on; in Earth by a continued cele­bration of their eminent graces, and holy performances: An [...] thus you see I have unaware [...] falne on my second Proposall, [...] collection of the Doctrines which are observable in the words and they are many: I shall acquaint you onely with a few.

• 1. The Apostle begins his induction with Abel, and bring [...] it downe to that century wherein he lived the same to conti­ [...]ue unto all Ages; it was the selfe same faith which was delive­red to the Saints in the first and latter times; that is in Scripture sense, before Christs comming in the Flesh, and after: tis true, the circumstantialls and externalls of Gods service, have much varied in the severall periods of the Church; but from the be­ginning there was one foundation of Religion, the same essence of piety, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, &c. Heb. 13 8. an [...] Christ is the same way conveied into the bearts of Beleevers, th [...] same Word, the same Faith the same Catholique Church, onely in Saint Aug language Tract 45. in ea. Ioh. tempora variate sunt, eadem fides, sonus mutatus est idem verbum: one common head Christ, all members united to him by one principall, Faith, and this commeth from the same Fountaine, the Spirit, and the Word.
• 2. We are enformed who are to be esteemed Elders in the Church such onely as received their approbation from God; the Primitive ancient Fathers, and what esteeme is to be allotted them; not to be accounted Founders of our Faith, but Builders [...] or rather (unlesse we admit the first Master Builders Prophet [...] and Apostles) repairers of Breaches▪ whensoever the Orthodor Faith is assaulted by Heretickes, who either batter the Building▪ or undermine the Foundation; neither are they to be worship­ped as the objects of adoration; but respected as patternes of [Page 9]imitation, not absolutely and universally, but with restriction; we are to follow them, wherein they follow their Leader, who alone is the way, the truth, and life; Gods testimoniall makes their Writings authenticke, and their examples imitable.

But more particularly, something we shal observe from Abels Person, his Oblation; and Gods acceptation of both.

1. From the Person, we observe these following conside­rables.

1. The piety of Beleevert▪ priviledges them not from hu­mane fatalities and contingencies, during the time of their re­sidence here on earth; omnis Adam, omnis Abel, Psal. 39.5.12. Every man at his best, his most seemingly seence and setled estate, is nothing but Vanity; or rather, Vanity, and nothing lesse then Vanity and nothing, Es. 40.17. Quemcun (que) hominem video, miserum scio, (saith Seneca) and, Quemcun (que) miserum vi­deo, hominem scio, Man, and misery, are paralells; Man at once lost his integrity and felicity; and ever since he is the subject of folly and misery: neither doth godlinesse exempt them from the common fate of men, Death; they live and dye as others, though, as their life, so their death is different from others: the disease is not removed, but the plague and mortality of it; Death is not taken away, (for they also are taken away by Death) but the sting; Death delivers them up to the Grave, and the Grave takes possession of them, as it doth of any Mor­tall, Psal. 49.10. Ez 21.4. and many times the best dye soonest, Es 57.1. Certainely this should be a great encou­ragement against the stormes, and difficulties, the dangers, and casualties of this life; and against the terrors and affrightments of Death This one Consideration will yeeld us solid com­fort, That all must dye, all are Humane and Mortall; for why should we fear to passe that strait, which all men must Saile through; or endeavour basely, and many times, unchristianly, to decrine▪ what none can avoyd? All men, all holy men, Abel the first righteous man; Abraham, the Father of the Faithfull; David, Gods favourite a man after Gods own heart, his darling; all wise men, the Prophets, and Patriarkes; all great men, Kings and Judges, have gone before us, or must come after us; and shall we think that strange, which is universally com­mon? [Page 10]or startle at the appraches of what is so infallibly cer­taine? Had wicked men onely passed this way, the Rode would have been suspicious; but seeing all our Progenitors, even the godliest, have gone this way; and the first that beate the Path, was a Just man, Justitia Princops, cui Christus justitia primatum tribuit, as Aug. speaketh; we need not feate, we may boldly venture, and follow; hac itur ad superos.

But more comfort yet, This just man dyed a violent Death; its Chrysostomes Observation, in Gen. 21. [...], &c. he first saw Death, and his Death was suddain and violent: the first that dyed, was murdered, and that by his Brother. Be not troubled, nor discontented with the sadnesse of thy afflicti­on. If thy Brethren, thy spirituall or naturall kindred, imprison, persecute, kill thee; if thou lose thy head, thy life, yet if thou keep thy Religion, thy faithfulnesse; it is thy gaine, thy ad­vantage. Abel fell by the hand of his Brother, and forthwith received a Crown of Martyrdom.

But yet more comfort; Abel is fallen, but he is falne onely asleep, he shall anon awake into immortall glory; meane time, his Monument stands, and shall not fall, till those Scripture Re­cords perish: Dead Abel is not Dead, he yet breatheth, he speaketh; Qui per virtutem perierat, haud is interit, saith the Comedian; and is Chrysostomes observation in Philip. him. 3. [...], wicked men are living dead men, 1 Tim. 5.6. the Righteous when dead, are yet, Dead Living Men, Luk. 20.38. the life is transitus ad mortem, a posting to Death: the Death of the other, is reditus ad vitam; a return to life, Ambr. de hon. mort. For, non est vita, &c. that is not life, but death, which sepa­rates a living man from Christ; neither is that death, but life, Quae morieutem Christo sociat▪ which brings a dying man to Christ who is the life, id de Abel l. 2. c. 9.

2. We are not to measure Gods favour by his temporall dispensations, nor passe sentence of his love or hatred, by the events or accidents of this life. Holy devout Abel is murdered in his young tender yeares; accursed Cain, lives long, begot a numerous Issue, builded magnificent Cities: God distributeth his temporall blessings promiscuously, giveth many times more liberall Portions to the wicked, then to his Children; and [Page 11]commonly he dispenceth his temporall felicities and advantages in a due proportion and equality to all, both good and bad: sure I am, wealth may abound, where grace doth not; and many times, wicked men enjoy the World most. Which made the Psal. 7 4. account the full men of the World, full to su­perfluity, to overflowing, wicked men: which certainly im­plies, that wicked men are many times full men, but their ful­nesse is a far more sad condition then the beggers emptinesse and want; they have a judgement and that is they have their Portion in this life, which though it be not a Childs Portion, yet is often as liberall; but its a sad consideration to have enough here, and too much for a moment; and have nothing (but what I feare to name) for Eternity.

3. Abel the first man who dyed, and he dyed a Martyr; The Crosse and the Church were at once consecrated; righte­ousnesse was persecuted in the Cradle, in the Insancie of time; afflictions entred early into the Church, and no sooner Religion peeped but cruelty and pers [...]cution, like the Canicular starres, appeared, and maligned it: the first man who was eminent [...]y just, was exemplarily a sufferer for it; and this reacheth us both patience to persevere, and to endure, that we faint not; be not weary of well-doing, though we be sure to smart for it; its a fe [...]icity to dye for doing good; Blessed are ye when ye suffer for Righteousnesse sake, saith our Saviour: Sacrifice we must, though we know we shall be made a Sacrifice for it; and if our Sacrifice be an excellent Sacrifice, though men vilifie us, God will testifie for us, we should not be ashamed, but rather rejoyce; and hence we Reade of glorifying in tribulation, Rom. 5.3. of counting it all joy Jam. 1.2. of counting it an honour, [...]. Act. 5.41. and its our calling to suffer, as well as to beleeve. Chil. 1.20. was to suffer, because we beleeve; so Sulp. Sever. l. 2. hist. tels us, that Dicclesiane saviente cortatim in gloriosa certamina rucha­tur, multo (que) avidius martyria gloriosis mortibus quarobatur, quam nunc Episcopatus pravis ambitionibus appetnntur.

4. Abels Sacrifice was well counted of by God, because he kept his heart upright with God, therefore was his Oblation ac­cepted, because he was just; and Gaius was rejected, because he harboured malitious thoughts in his heart against his Brother; [Page 12]Its the just mans Sacrifice, which is as Incence, the Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; its Sacriledge, and grosle hypo­crisie for an ungodly man to call on God, Ps. 50.16. and a very Heathen could tell us, animadverto etiam ipsos Deos, non tam accuratis adorantium precibus, quam innocentia & sancti­tate latari, Plin. Pan. ad Traj. Saint Paul is expresse, 1 Tim. 2.8. Lift up holy and clean hands, without wrath, without doubt­ing: nothing of infidelity towards God, no malicious designe in our hearts against our neighbour, when we approach into Gods presence. The Psalmist, Psal. 99.7. tells, Moses and Samuels Prayers were heard; and tells the reason, For they kept his testimonies, &c. and again is positive, If I encline unto, &c. Psal. 66 18. and therefore, I will wash my hands in innocencie, and so I will goe to thine Altar, Psal. 26.6. God requires obe­dience rather then sacrifice, for, He that turneth away his ears, &c. Prov. 28.9. Alas then, to what purpose doe we offer to God our bodies; when we retaine our affections or why doe we pray unto him, and sin against him; aske grace of him, and never en­deavour to resist one temptation, to mortifie one lust, to cast off one carnality; to what end are our Prayers loud, and our Voy­ces strained for a blessing when our sins cry louder for vengeance? why doe we bow our knee, and prostrate our bodies, yet our mindes are insolent, and haughty, a stiffe necked and stubborne Generation? why doe we lift up our hands and eyes to God, when we are devising contriving and projecting for the World? what are all the postures of devotion, the moving of the lips, the articulation of the tongue, the incurvation of the knees, the erection of the eyes and hands, but complement, formality, and the arts of hypocrisie, unlesse they be ushered in, and attended with purity of heart, with innocencie of actions, and sincerity of affections? When the Jews offered their Sacrifices, Isay 1.11. God protested against them, notwithstanding they were the Ordinances of his own lips, and solemnly voweth, he will not take notice of their multiplied, their numerous, their long Pray­ers; why? Their hands were full of blood, Isay. 1.15. [...] Is. Pel. l, 4. Ep. 24. God respects not the worke, but the heart; not our language, but our life; not our petitions, but our practi­ses: for, Qui innocentiam colit, Deo supplicat, Min. Fael. he Prayes [Page 13]well, who lives well; but he that deviseth evill against his neigh­bour, in any respect, by fraud, or force to alienate his right, this mans Religion is in vain, his oblations are in vain, tis but dalli­ance and mockery of God, to expresse devotion in their over­tures, when the designe is interest, and passion; to weare Gods Livery, yet doe the Devils Service; to follow Gods Colours, and fight the Devils Battels: but be not deceived, God is not mock­ed. &c. O then clense your hands, ye sinners, and purifie your hearts ye double minded, and so draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you; look that there be no root of bittornesse in you, entertain no distrustfull misprisions of Gods wisedome, power, or mercy; harbour no invenomed malitious thought of hatred or revenge against thy Brother, or neighbour: sue for Grace, at the Throne of Grace and by your actions and conver­sations, give testimony of the reality of your expressions of the sincerity of your hearts, and desires; and so God will witnesse, and testifie, that you are faithfull, and righteous, as Abel; then he will accept your burnt offerings, and grant all your desires; then he will declare, and pronounce▪ your Prayers and Oblations excellent Sacrifices, as he did to Abels; and will reward you with the returne of grace and glory among them who are Sancti­fied by Faith.

5. I shall adde one more Observation onely in this Point, which I borrow from Saint Aug. l. 15. de Civ Dei, c. 1. Cain and Abel divided the World, and still the devision holds betwixt the wicked and godly; those who are of the City of God▪ cry and Pray, Lord shew unto us the light of thy countenance; and those of the City of the World, who minde Earthly things; the encrease of their Corne and Wine. Abel, the Founder of the holy City: Cain the Master Builder of the profane; the way of Cain a dangerous destructive way, and the Kainites were those who approved, Scelestissimos Sodomitas, seditiosum Core, Judam proditorem, Epiph. haer. 38. But Aug there drives further the Observation, Cain prior, &c. Cain the first borne; Abel fol­lowes; to Note the succession of Nature and Grace; by Nature we are first Cains; by Grace we are after renewed into Abels.

2. From the Sacrifice, and the first Observation is the same Father, Epist. 49.

[Page 14]1. Quam sit res antiqua sacrificium, quod non nisi uni De [...], &c. non quod illo egout Deus, but to tutor and discipline us The first holy man was a Sacrificer; and wicked Cain was not so Sacrilegious, as to deny God his own; God will be worshipped, not onely with inward sincerity, but by externall rites, and bo­dily performances. The case is the same now, it was in the be­ginning; God then was a Spirit, and would be wo [...]shipped in Spirit and Truth: and if externall services had prejudiced the spirituall God who was a Spirit, and required spirituall worship, would have wholly rejected and condemned them: Abels Sa­crifice would have proved criminall as well as Cain [...]; for though chiefly he requires the heart, (My Son give me thy heart) yet not exclusively; he who made both Soule and Body, exacts a tribute of obedience and worship from both. God heareth without Eares can interpret our Prayers without our Tongues, and yet for all that, it is necessary some times, and most times advantagi­ous, never sinfull or superstitious, to make use of the Tongue and Lips in our devotion; its hypocrise, when the Lips labour, but the Spirit is flat and dull; when the body is present, and the soule roving and wandering; but when body and soule are conjoyned in the performances of holy duties, then we present a reasonable service to God. The difference here, was not betwixt him that Sacrificed, and him that Sacrificed not, Eccl. 9.2. for both were Sacrificers: but between a sincere Sacrificer, and him that offered the Sacrifice o [...] Fooles, Eccl. 5 1. So in the Parable in the Gospel, Mat. 25. Virgins, and no Virgins, was not the termes of opposition; but Wise and Foolish Virgins, Professors, and Beleevers; Formalists, and Live Members of the body of Christ; such as seek themselves in their addresses, and such as ayme at Gods glory; such as make use of God, and the formes of godlinesse for their own ends, and such as observe them in obedience to Gods will, and their intention and designe to Gods glory, which sanctifies all their Oblations, gives distinction to them, and procures acceptance of them. Aug. l. 15. de Civ. Dei. c. 7. makes this difference betwixt a godly, and a wicked man, Boni ad hoc utuntur mundo, ut fruantur Deo, mali, ut fruantur mundo, uti volunt Deo. That then which distinguished Abels Sacrifice, was the purity and Piety of his intentions, without [Page 15]which, the bodily exercise (though that required also) could not profit, O then, when we come into Gods Presence, enter into his Courts, let not your bodies and soules be strangers, the one in the Temple, the other at home, or abroad in the World, but glorifie God both in your soules, and in your bodies, for they are Gods; give him a bended knee, and a broken Spirit; let both hands and heart be advanced, for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased.

2. Reason, and Religion, taught Abel, it was Gods blessing upon his endeavour, made them prosperous, (and indeed, so it is, Psal. 127.2) and therefore, to offer to God some part of that, which he had blessed him withall in his Civill Calling. And this enstructs us to implore Gods assistance in all our enterprizes, his blessing upon all our labours, his concurrence in all our actions. Plin. in his Pan. to Traj. observes it, Nihil rito, nihil prviden­ter, &c. nothing could be prosperously undertaken, without Prayer and Supplications to their phantastick gods. And Cain here upon the same account, and persuasion, offered his Sacrifice: He that is called a Christian, and neglects, and omits this duty, is short of Cain, of a Heathen, in Religion. O then, whatsoever ye doe, or whatsoever ye are about to doe, commend the successe thereof, and commit your selves to Gods wise disposall, and gracious providence, Phil. 4.6.

3. This Sacrifice was Majoris pretii, so Beza. Plurima ho­stia. so the Vulgar. Our contributions to Piety, and charitable benevolences ought not to be extorted▪ or squeazed; are not to be sparing or pinching; but are to be dispenced chearfully, and liberally. To part with the worst, and keep the fat, and the best, for a sacrifice to our own lusts, is not an acceptable Sacrifice to God. Almes is a Christian Sacrifice, at well as Prayer; but it is when they are done in Mercy and Charity, with an affection to doe good, and a readinesse to communicate, Heb. 13, 16. to bestow some part of our temporall estate on the outward ser­vice of God for we are to honour God with our substance) is not onely gratitude, but Religion; to chuse and stick to that way of Gods service, which will occasion least expences, which is most cheape and easie, and will cost us nothing; is not to give unto God, the things that are Gods; is not onely basenesse, and [Page 16]covetousnesse, but also profanity and irreligion: and to detain [...] alienate, what God hath proportioned for publike Ministery, Sacriledge, Mal. 3.8.

4. It was not onely of the Fat, but of the Firstlings of [...] Flock, the first fruits of our life, the prime years of our ag [...] while vigour and strength is full, are to be Consecrated to, a [...] employed in Gods service. We are to sow our Seed in th [...] Morning: To remember our Creator in the dayes of our You [...] to beare his yoake from our Childhood, to goe into his Vin [...] yard at the first houre, and continue till the twelfth; to se [...] him early, in the height and excellency of our dayes; not [...] our declining, dawning dotage: the services of old age, a [...] death-bed resolutions and performances, are lame, sick Sacrifi­ces, Mal. 1.8, God will not be thus served.

3. From Gods Acceptation.

• 1. Abel Offered to God of his own gifts, and for this he [...] famous to all generations. God honoureth them who hono [...] him, though the World deride and maligne them, yet he w [...] procure them a name and memory in his Church, though the [...] be for a while overclouded with a storme, yet their righteou [...] ­nesse shall appear as the Sun at Midday.
• 2. It is not the applause, or admiration of men, but Go [...] testimony and approbation, which will yeeld solid comfort an [...] content; the good word of men is as uncertain as themselves its Hosanna to day, Crucifie to morrow: But he who receive honour from God, holds it for eternity; his testimoniall, h [...] Letter Patents▪ are never out of date: vainly and ambitiously [...] covet the prayse of men, is Pharisaicall hypocrisie, Ioh. 5.4 [...] a touch of infidelity, which (when the secrets of all counsel [...] shall be discovered) will bring with it shame and confusion [...] face before God and his Angels: but that prayse which is of God is a tended with honour, glory, immortality, eternall life [...] Observe Saint Pauls Exhortation, Phil. 4.8. and obey it, and you shall obtain Abels reward and honour, Gods testimony. For certainly, if we by patient continuance in well-doing▪ seek for glory, we shall finde it; If as Abel we Sacrifice and suffer for it; doe well, and are persecuted for it, the blood of sprink­ling, which speaketh better things then the blood of Abel, will [Page 17]consecrate and sanctifie all our Sacrifices, services, and sufferings, and make them accepted for that Sacrifice, which Jesus Christ, the first borne of every Creature, offered to God the Father on the Crosse, for the Salvation of Men.

Ne (que) enem in sacrificiis, quae Abel & Cain primi obtulerunt, munera eorum Deus, sed corda iutuebatur: Abel pacificus & justus, dum Deo sacrificat innocenter, docuit & cateres quando ad Altare munus offerunt, s [...] venire cum timore Dei, cum sim­plici corde, cum lege justitia, cum concerdiae pace, Cypr. Serm. sext. de Orat. Domin.

3^d. Part, which contains a Prayer, or Meditation.

O Eternall Lord God, who dwellest in the highest Heavens, in hat light which is inaccessible, yet admits thy sinfull creatures he e on earth to have accesse unto thy Throne of Grace, by humble Prayers and Supplycations. O thou Infinite all perfection, and all sufficiency, who art cloathed with Majesty and Honour, yet gra­cio [...]sly accepts the Oblations and devoirs f t [...]y faithfull servants, though accompanied with many imperfections and weakenesses: pardon and remit (we beseech thee) the infirmities and defects of our holy things, and let the Words of our Mouthes, and the Meditations of our hearts be alwayes acceptable in thy sight, O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Compose our minds, and frame our hearts into such a temper of spirit, that with devotion of spirit, with submission and reverence of affections, with holy and heavenly resolutions of obedience, we may serve and worship thee, that our Sacrifices be living, our services reasonable, such as may advance thy glory, and expresse our sincere repentance, and holy Faith. We renounce all sufficiency in our selves, all merit in our workes, and have recourse to thy mercy▪ and thy Sons merits, for the acceptance of both. We humbly confesse our persons are burdened with an infinite guilt, which our wounded spirits cannot of themselves sustaine. O holy Jesu [...] who was wounded for our transgressions▪ and bore all our iniquities, disbur­den and cleare us from the weight of our sins, take us into the armes of thy mercy, beare our griefes, carry our sorrowes, that we sincke not into perdition. Master save us, else we perish; Sonne of God, Lan [...]s of God; then that takest away the sins of the [Page 18]World, take away our sins: protect us from thy Fathers wrath, and reconcile us into his favour. Our Natures are deeply in­fected with an over-spreading Leprosie; ô thou the great Physi­cian of our Soules, wash and cleanse the plague of our hearts with thy blood, and by the vertue of that precious application, cure all our distempers, heale all our infirmities: our sinnes are in number and quality above measure sinfull; O holy Redeemer, absolve us from them by the Oblation of thy Soule offered for sinne: expiate them with thy satisfaction, kill them by thy death, and let thy righteousnesse be unto us for a garment of salvation. Our Services, Prayers, and Religious duties, are defective and blemished; O all-sufficient Saviour, by thy Incense and Inter­cession, supply all their defects, sanctifie all their adherent cor­ruptions, and present them as acceptable Sacrifices to thy Father. Suffer us not, O omnipotently gracious, and graciously omnipotent Lord God, when we are called, as Abel was, to suffer for thee, and for righteousnesse sake, to fall away from the steadfastnesse of our Faith: strengthen us with all might, by thy glorious power, unto all patience, and long suffering with joyfulnesse. Let thy holy Spirit be our instructer, and comforter, that we never Sa­crifice to any strange Gods, that we never swerve from the rules of Piety and Justice, alwayes obeying thy will, alwayes submit­ting to thy will. The Lord heare us in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend us; fend us help from his Sanctuary, and strengthen us out of Sion. Remember all our Offerings, and accept our Sacrifices; O let us alwayes offer, and doe thou gratiously accept; and, when thou pleasest, let us chearefully suffer, and doe thou gloriously reward. Whatsoever thy dispensations shall be, let them be in love and mercy to us; and let our demeanour under them, be as becommeth the Gospell of Christ Jesus; if they share out unto adversity, let us take up our crosse and follow thee, resigne our selves, offer up our wills and affections to thy infinite wife and good providence: If thou portion out unto us prosperity, let us not dare to Sacrifice unto our own nets, ascribe it to our own wit or industry, or carnally glory in our own wealth or power; but to offer and returne to thee all we have and enjoy, in a gratefull acknowledgement; re­ceiving all from thee, depending for all on thee, enjoying all in [Page 19]thee, referring all unto thee: And for all, we offer unto thy divine Majesty our soules and bodies, our thoughts and words, our resolutions and actions, our passions and affections, to be re­gulated by thy word, sanctified by thy spirit, guided by thy coun­sell, blessed by thy goodnesse; all that we are, all that we have, we offer as a Sacrifice to thee, and to thy service, humbly be­seeching thee to approve and accept all for the value of that Sacrifice, which thy holy Sonne Jesus offered on the Crosse for the redemption of mankinde: For which great and unexpressable mercy, we offer up unto thee the Calves of our lips. Blessing, Glory, Honour, and Power, be unto him that sitteth on the Throne, to the Lambe, and to the holy Spirit, for ever and ever, Amen.

ENOCHS Translation.

ABel the first example of piety, was the first man that died; Enoch, the second godly man in the Catologue, the first that died not: Abels departure, assures us, That though we now live, we must dye; Enochs translation, ascertains us, That though our life be changed, we shall live: Abel was snatched away by unnaturall violence Enoch was removed by a super­naturall mercy: Abel by the hand of his Brother was sent in­to Heaven, Enoch was by God immediately assumed thither: Abel was cast up in a storme Enoch carried thither in a calme; he to receive his Crown of Martyrdome, this the reward of his uprightnesse and sincerity in the middest of a crooked and per­verse Generation, both admitted to the fruition of an unmixt, unalterable felicity. Further yet, in Abel we see the sad and disconsolate condition of Beleevers in this life; in Enoch, their [Page 20]glorious and happy estate after their change: in the one, the implacable fury, hostility, and malice of the World against them: in the other, the incomprehensible love and mercy of God towards them: the first enstructs us to serve God con­stantly, in despight of all opposition, terrors or discourage­ments; the latter, ascertaine us, that if we please God, God will reward our services with glory and eternity; For, By Faith Enoch, &c.

According to my premised Method, the words of the Canon are to be first explained.

1. part.

This Enoch was the same that is mentioned by Saint Jude, verse 14. to difference him from Enos the sonne of Cain, cal­led the seventh from Adam; not as if there had been but five men betwixt Adam and him, (for there was a numerous people betwixt them) but because he lived in the seventh generation or age from Adam, five generations intervening that of Seth, Enos, Kena [...], Mahalaleel, Jared, who begot Enoch in the seventh age, anno mundi, 622.

The Apostles Encomium of this Enoch is taken from the hi­storicall relation, Gen. 5.24. and there is no jar at all betwixt Moses his history, and Saint Pauls testimony of him.

Indeed Aben-ezra, and generally the Jews, charge the Apostle with forgery and prevarication, and hotly urge Moses against him to prove that Enoch did die, in a direct oppoition to his, that he should not see death, and their plea they take from the words of the Text, which (say they) necessarily proves their affirma­tion. For thus they reason, all the dayes of Enoch were 365 years, but if he were then, or be yet living, then Moses his calculation of Enochs dayes were false, his dayes were extended to the Apo­stles age, and so more then 365 years, and therefore Moses his re­port, he was taken away, is not truely translated by Saint Paul, [he did not see death] and so by consequent, Saint Paul doth not interpret, but imposeth on Moses what he never entended, doth not translate Moses his words, but corrupt and offer violence to them in this particular, concerning Enochs translation.

But in all this heat, the Jewes shew themselves Jewes, maliti­ously charging that on the Apostle, which the accusers are deeply [Page 21]guilty of, which will easily be discovered by these following manifestoes.

• 1. Those words, all the dayes &c. relates onely to the dayes of his flesh, but determines nothing concerning either his death, or not death: the sense is, howsoever he was removed hence, whether he passed the ordinary gate of death, or was extraord­narily conveyed away; tis certain, before this removall, he lived 365 yeares, which is all that can be concluded from that ex­pression, and is to their purpose a meer impertinency: for it fol­lowes not, all the dayes of Enoch were 365 years, therefore Enoch died, that is, his soule was separated from his body; this will onely follow, his body was taken from the eye of men, and his person, from conversation with men of that age; neither can that Phrase, God took him, beare their glosse. For
• 2. The Apostles translation of the phrase is warranted by Onkelus, who thus reades it, Ne (que) enim occidit eum Deus, he was not taken away by a sodaine violent death, as they fan­cy; God took not life from him as Jonas wished in the im­patiency of spirit, Jonah 4.3. but took him, the whole com­positum consisting of body and soul: and further yet, from Siracides, Eccles. 44.16. who interprets it of his translation into Heaven, [...], but most principally and clearely from the Text it selfe; For

1. Death is the wages of sin, not the reward of piety; and his taking away, in the Text, is subsequent to his walking with God, as an extraordinary remuneration thereof, and a sig­nall testimony of his love and favour.

2. No such phrase is used concerning the departure of any of the rest of the Patriarches; of all of them it is said in ex­presse formall termes, that they dyed, of him onely, that God tooke him, in an extraordinary favour, by an extraordinary way; neither is this to be presumed a nullity, or appeal of that eternall Decree of the Soveraigne Lawgiver, Statutum est om­nibus mori, but a dispensation of that Law, which he subjected his creatures unto, himselfe still remaining most free to privi­ledge and exempt whom he pleaseth from the bondage of death, and sentence of the Law; neither doth Death in that Statute signifie onely the divorce or separated estate of the soule from [Page 22]the body, but also it expresseth the exchange of a mortall bodily condition, into an immortall and spirituall: and unlesse this signification be admitted, that Statute reacheth not, holdeth not, in that residue which shall be found at the last day, who shall not die that is their persons shall not be dissolved, but shall die, they shall be changed; they shall not die in the former, they shall die in the latter sense 1 Thes. 4.17,

3. That expression [he was not, or he was not seen] non com­paruit, as Onkelos, imports so much For if God had onely assumed his soule, as of other dying Saints, he might have been seen on earth, his body had remained among them as the dead bodies of Abel, Seth, &c. did; which because it was not to be found, we may with good consequence infer, God took it with his soule, not his soule, and left it.

If it be objected That it is also said of Moses his body that it was not to be found; the answer is obvious, that the case [...] different: For of Moses its recorded in plain termet, that he died they are the very words of the Text, no such thing so much as hinted concerning Enoch: And although none had made a discovery where Moses Sepulchre was, the proper ubi of it, yet in generall we know, God enterred him in a valley of Moab, Deut. 34.6.

4. God is a God of the living; what he is said to take, it is to shew mercy and love, it is not to worse, but perfect the condition: if he take the soule, it is to enlarge it from the burden and bondage of the body, and to compleat that effence which it had in its house of Clay: if he take the body, it is to confer on it a more excellent and certain condition, to free it from contingencies, infirmities, yea corruption it selfe, and re­store it to a life proportionable to that dignity and glory it is assumed and advanced unto.

Others there are, who though they grant, he died not, yet by no means will allow him a place in Heaven, but confine him to some subterrestriall or aeriall lodge, or which is most received, to Paradise, as (say they) afterwards Elias was, there to be re­served to the revelation of Antichrist, at, or neer, the end of the World, under whom they shall suffer Martyrdome, yet at last shall prevaile against him, and so be admitted into Heaven.

But this fancy is easily consuted by the series of the history of Genesis, for either Enoch was one of the eight persons saved in the Deluge, as most certain it is he was not; or if he were at the time of the Deluge in any terra incognita, he had certainly perished in it. If it be replied, That Paradise was a priviledged place, by an extraordinary dispensation, from the generall Inun­dation. First this is to beg the question, and to suppose that which is to be proved. Secondly, this is to pretend a miracle without warranty. Thirdly, if it were so, then Noah might have saved himselfe a labor to build an Arke, and saved himselfe and children in Paradise, and have had no tedious march thither. And fourthly, if Enochs body were there, it might have been found, and seen, for it was a known place in Mesopotamia; and Peter, the Jesuit is of this opinion, and dissents from Bell, and others of his society in this particular.

Others make Heaven the terme of his translation, but yet conceive he was advanced to the highest pitch of felicity, he should after participate, Sed substitisse in sinu Abrama us (que) ad Christi adventum, these are the words, and this the conjecture of Peter Martyr; but this (I conceive) though it be disputable, yets its most probable, its no absurdity in relation, its not error in Faith to hold, That God compleats not the felicity of his Saints at their entrance into Heaven, simul and semul, altoge­ther and at once, but by severall degrees and Classes advanceth them, as shall more fully appear in the explanation of the last verse of this Chapter.

But whether God changed Enoch in a moment as the living at the last day shall be, 1 Cor. 15.51.52. I will not declare affirmanter, positively, though to me it seems most probable, he was not so changed; for flesh and blood, (thats the relicks of corruption) cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: ne­cessarily, the body must be previously disposed and qualified with such perfections and excellencies, as in some measure are answerable to Gods Majesty and presence, before it be admit­ted into Heaven, or partake glory; even the most innocent im­perfections to which our bodies are subject, as hungring, thirsting, and such like, must be deposited, and other dispositions substitu­ted; our bodies must be spiritualized, not in substance, but in [Page 24]qualities, and in their exemption from those infirmities which were in this mortall estate connaturall to them; and this is Aug thought l. 1. de pece mer. & remiss cont. Pel. Non cred [...] Enoch & Elias in illam spiritualem qualitatem corporis comm [...] tates, qualis in resurrectione promittitur; and so I leave the first praposall, and descend to the Doctrinall part.

• 1. Enochs wa [...]king with God, was antocedent to his plea­sing of God, to his translation by God; if we will please him be glorified by him we must feare and honour him first; h [...] that thus hopeth will purifie himselfe, he that lo [...]keth for now Heavens, and new Earth, will be diligent to be found, &c. 2 Pet. 3.13.14. and this diligence is the well pleasing service this is the [...], in the Text for this w [...]rd signifies no [...] onely actually to please, but to endeavour to make it their stu­dy, businesse, and delight to please; and so i [...] is [...] [...] Tit. 2.9 Tis most certain, if we doe sincerely endeavour, w [...] shall please, if we please, we shall be approved, shall be recompenced; this is the salary of righteousnesse, at the end i [...] shall be well with the doers thereof, Isay 3 10. but if we walk after the world, the humours fancies, and misprisions of men, the fa­shionable thriving, and applauded sins of the times, if we com­ply with the interests and passions of others for our own world­ly ends to the dishonour of Religion, prejudice and disadvan­tage of our neighbours, we endeavour to please men, not God, we are not in all things willing, that is, resolving and endeavour­ing to live honestly, which in the Apostles account, is the great evidence of a good conscience, Heb. 13.18. we walk after the flesh, and we know Saint Pauls judgement is authenticke, Gal. 5.21. whereas if we live in the feare of God, walke after the spirit, there is no condemnation, Rom. 8.1. If we will walke [...], exactly, Eph. 5.15. we must walke by rule, Phil. 3.16. then all shall be blessed here, and hereafter: ambula, walke be­fore me (saith God) Gen. 17.1. and be thou perfect; sincere here, and happy hereafter; godly here, glorious hereafter.
• 2. Enochs integrity, and exact conversation, and that in an Age when sin was predominant, and the whole world lay in wickednesse, verifies the Apostles assertions, The just shall live by Faith; Faith is the substance, for what but his Faith kept [Page 25]him unspotted from the World, moved him to walk in a dia­metricall opposition to the wayes of the World? what but his Faith taught him to contemne the World, and all the gaudy phantastick vanities of it, all the carnall pleasures and enjoy­ments of it? what but his Faith provoked and perswaded him to walk wisely in the middest of a crooked and perverse ge­neration? what but his Faith, which overcame the world, ma­stered his affections, sequesited his thoughts from the honours, profits pleasures thereof, and set him on heaven and heavenly things? his Faith told and enstructed him, that the World is but a Scheame, that passeth away, 1 Epist. of John 2.17. 1 Cor. 7.31. all its honours end in shame and dishonour, all its profits in want and misery, all its pleasures in bitter­nesse and anxiety; and this enformation restrained him from a greedy restlesse pursuite after the World; his Faith ascertained him, that to be carnally minded, is death; to walke after the spirit, is life; that the wayes of the wicked are destructive, pernitious wayes, 2 Pet. 2.2. a woe attending them, Jude 11. that the walke of the many (though many of them walke like the pestilence in darkenesse) is enmity to the Crosse of Christ, Phil. 3.18. the path that leadeth to the chambers of death; and therefore he declined their pathes, would not follow a mul­titude to doe evill; well he knew, that great is the reward of righteousnesse; he that beleeveth, shall not be ashamed, shall not be confounded; his patient expectation shall not be frustra­ted, God will preserve him, and save him, and glorifie him to all eternity: and upon this consideration, he ordered his con­versation aright, he walked with God while he lived here, and now rests from his labours, and liveth with God in peace and happinesse to all eternity, illi terrena sapiant, &c. saith Cyprian, let those dote on the World who either know not, or look not for Heaven; those who seek for eternity, sleight the World, leave all, and follow Christ, Matth. 4.22. Col. 3.1. you have a most weighty exhortation, to holy and heavenly mindednesse, which may well take up your thoughts and meditations.
• 3. Enoch Faith obtained more then it aymed at, not onely a liberate from the bondage of mortality, and the soon after ensuing destruction; but also an unexpected conveyance into [Page 26]Heaven: God doth abundantly to the Beleevers, over and above what his Faith can think or aske. Tis true, our Faith ex­pects not the same way, looks not at the same passe into Hea­ven; yet it will procure that happinesse to us which will be in­finitely satisfactory; the soule of the Beleever is immediately after its seperation translated into Heaven: and his body (though for the present flumbering in the Grave) shall awake into a glorious resurrection, Ioh. 6.40. and be united unto the soule and so both shall be indefeasably seized of eternall felicities the sight and fruition of God. Thus Augustine lib. 15. de Civ. Dei, cap. 19. Enoch translatio nostrae dedicationis est prasigurati dilatio; quae quidem jam facta est in Christo capite nostro, qu [...] sie resurrexit, ut non moriatun ulterius, sed etiam ipse translatu [...] est, restat altera dedicatio universa domus; quando erit omnium resurrectio, non mortuorum amplius.
• 4. Enoch was taken away, when he had lived but a moiety of that age, which the rest of his contemporaries had indulged to them; it is many times a great mercy to be taken away from present and future evills. Indeed, old age, and long life, are the blessings of God, yet such onely as are common, and are not simply desireable of themselves, but in reference and order to other ends and uses; and certainely. Death it selfe, (if we reflect on the advantanges, we gaine by it, whether de­liverance from the contagious wickednesses, or sad distempers of the calamitous time we passe below, or the immediate pos­session and enjoyment of the succeeding selicities in Heaven) cannot be surmized a losse, but an exchange or trassique; not an effect of Gods severity and wrath, but a priviledge of grace and mercy: else Saint Pauls, Cupio dissolvi. &c. Phil. 1.23. would be a rash, if not desperate wish, concupiscontia carnis, which was indeed most pious and rationall; for what so high complement of love, as to desire to be with Christ? what more reasonable suite, then to Petition an exchange of Earth, for Heaven; cortainty, for uncertainty; misery, for endlesse feli­city? to leave the society of men, wicked men, tyrants, and persecutors; absurd unreasonable men, as the Apostle stiles them, and be admitted into the company of innumerable Angels and Saints, of Christ, his holy Apostles, Confessors, and Martyrs. [Page 27]O then let us not feare our own, let us not grieve at the death of others, as if we were without hope; but let us resolve, that Death is the end of our Pilgrimage, the finishing our course, the bringing us to our fathers house; and Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.
• 5. Enochs Faith, was an operative, obedientiall Faith, it taught and directed him to please God; Ʋt transferretur causa fuit, quod placuit Deo, ut placerat Deo, ambulavit cum Deo obediens ejus voluntati, ut ambularet cum Deo, causa fuit ejus fides, Haym. in loe. his Faith set him on obedience to God; his obedience pleased him; and because he pleased him, there­fore he also translated him: No matter then whether we please men, or no, lets study and endeavour to please God, to serve him [...]; with reverence and godly feare, in the Apostles ex­pression, Heb. 12.28. and we shall be sure, all things, the worst of things, tribulation, distresse, persecution. famine, nakednesse, sword, and death it selfe, shall worke together for good to us, Rom. 8.28. If men scorne and forsake us, the Heavenly Quire will entertaine and welcome us; If the World deride, hate, and persecute us, Angels will delight and rejoyce in us, God will bestow a name and an inheritance which shall not be taken from us, he will favour and preserve us. Build, O build up your selves in your most holy Faith, and in the end, you shall receive the end of your hopes, the reward of your labors and sufferings, Eternall Life. For the obtaining of which, let us in the last place Pray.

Per Abelem mortis sententiam demonstravit Deus esse certam; Per Enoch autem indicavit temporariam eam sententiam, nec in sempeternum duraturam, caetorum abolendam olim mortem; Proinde, quod vivens translatus est, & quod vivit, scimus: Ʋbi autem, & quomode, incertam, Scriptura hoc non patefaciente, Theoph. in loc.

3d. Part. The Prayer, or Meditation.

O Most glorious Lord God, who art infinitely holy, mereifull, and good, who delightest in mercy, and with whom mercy rejoyceth against judgement; from whose goodnesse every good [Page 28]and perfect gift is derived, and with whom there is no variable nesse, nor shadow of change; who infinitely rewardest the sincer [...] endeavours of thy servants with Eternity, and dost abundantly for them above what they can aske or thinke. Enoch, his con­fidence, kept himselfe unspotted of the World; when it lay in wickednesse, he separated himselfe from all confederacy and asso­ciation with it; when the ungodly walked on every side, he fol­lowed the wayes of Righteousnesse; where and when sinne aboun­ded, grace in him did superabound; he walked before thee O God of Righteousnesse, and thou wert pleased by a Miracle of mercy to remove him from the world and sinne, and assume him into Heaven that way none had passed before, and possesse him of thy glory and fulnesse. O thou the God of all Power strengthen us by the assistance of the same grace, to follow his holy exam­ple, that so also we may follow him in the place of holinesse, the Throne of Gods Glory and Majesty Restraine and prevent us by thy Grace, that we walke not in the wayes of the wicked, we fond not upon earthly vanities and possessions, we have no fellow­ship with the unfruitfull workes of darkenesse. Assist us by thy Grace, that we walke as the Children of Light, our treasure be­ing Heaven, the reward of holy living, we may not have our portion in this World; that having made our acquaintance with thee, and living and dying in the unity of the holy Catholique Church, and in the Communion of Saints, we may have remis­sion of our sinnes: And when thou shalt be pleased to remove us hence, we may live with thee eternally, and be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light, we may be admitted into the society of the holy Angels, of Enoch and of the rest of the glorified Saints: Deliver us (O Lord) from the power of darkinesse, and so translate us into the Kingdome of thy deare Sonne; that then with the holy Angels and blessed Saints, we may spend a whole Eternity in singing Prayses to thy great and glorious name, who livest for ever and ever; and blessed be the holy and undivided Tranity, now and for evermore, Amen.

NOAHS Arke.

THe third Canonized Saint in Saint Pauls Catalogue is Noah, one perfect in his Generation, not onely coram ho­ [...]inibus, before men, sed pra hominibus coram Deo, more then [...]en, before God, Gen. 7.1. this is Gods testimony of him, Gen. 6.9. a Preacher of Righteousnesse, both by words and life; this Saint Peters Elogie of him, 2 Pet. 2.5. the Heire of Righ­teousnesse, in this Apostles expression in this place; whose holy Faith procured him a salvation different from the mercies which were bestowed on Abel and Enoch; the same Faith but noted here and diversified by discriminating acts and objects. Abels Faith sanctified his Oblation, and furnished him with spirituall graces, perseverance in well-doing, and the patience of hope, (as the Apostle Phraseth, 1 Thes. 1.3.) for well doing; and after, this work of Faith, acquired him him an inheritance among those who are sanctified by Faith. Enochs Faith wrought righ­teousnesse, and immediately advanced him into Heaven, and preferred him to a transcendent dignity, and by an extraordinary way of mercy, possessed him of eternity. Noahs Faith procu­red him temporall advantages, preserved him and his family from outward ruine, when the ungodly World, yea, a World of ungodly men perished by the Deluge. Abels Faith armed him with patience against the assaults of his Brothers cruelty. Enochs Faith defended him against the overflowings of ungodlinesse and [Page 30]senced him with innocency, Noahs Faith taught him providence, to prepare an Arke against a storme, and preserved hi [...] from the overflowings of the great deeps: Tis true, the direct and primary object of Faith, is eternity; yet even temporall deliverances are subordinately and secondarily considered; it is a [...] act of Faith to overcome the World, but the highest operation is the purchase and acquisition of Heaven: Godlinesse hath th [...] promises of this life, that now is, and of that which is to com [...] 1 Tim. 4, 8. even temporall enjoyments, are objects of our de­sires, and of our hopes, so long as the preservation of health a [...] life shall be a mercy and blessing to us; and Faith not onely bin [...] us to the duties of Religion, but to a diligent provision for o [...] selves and relatives, 1 Tim. 5.8, The direct then, and proper a [...] of Abels Faith, was patience; the reward, blessednesse, Mat. [...] 10. The act of Enochs Faith, was holinesse of life; the reward Vision of God, Mat. 5.8. The act of Noahs Faith, providence the reward, Preservation. For by Faith Noah, &c.

1. Part. The Exposition of the Words.

Being warned of God, and it was no suddaine, no sho [...] warning; the prediction beares date before the event 120 year [...] The warning was given (Gen. 6.3.) in the 480 yeare currant [...] Noahs life, Lamech his Father being 662, and Methuselah h [...] Grandfather 849 years old; and the Deluge happened not t [...] the 600 yeare currant of Noah, Gen. 7.6.

Of things not as yet seen, and so not foreseen by humane wise­dome, or discoverable by any rules of art, the fore-told event was beyond the reach of the deepest Politian, and the skill of the most exact Artist. Indeed, an observing man might have seen the sins of that Age, and that place where he lived, to be rip [...] for judgement, and cry loud for vengeance; but he could no [...] see, that all Flesh had corrupted it selfe, nor reasonably presum [...] it; and therefore neither could he foresee that all Flesh should be destroyed by Water at such a period of time; nor reasonably presume, that God would execute the severity of his wrath i [...] that height and rigour. The Artist possibly might by the con­junction of the Celestiall bodies presage great Floods and Inun­dations to happen at or neer about that determinate time; but he could not so much as guesse or divine, that so violent an irruption [Page 31]of the springs and heads of Waters should follow as would drain them, and the Water which was bound in the Clouds, Iob 26.8. should descend in cataracts for forty naturall dayes, and cover the most mountainous parts of the earth; that the Waters above and beneath within the Earth, and the Clouds, should conspire [...]he destruction of the World; or that the Ayre would melt and [...]issolve it selfe into Water, or that this Deluge would be so uni­versall, happen at once in all parts and places of the World; [...]hese, nor none of these, could the chiefest Magitian, either [...]ncy, or Prognosticke, no ordinary or naturall influences or [...]owers (though these might have their helping and furthering [...]asualty) brought this long derided judgement; but the extra­ordinary hand of the great God of Heaven and Earth, he onely before whose Eyes all things past, present, and to come are [...]aked) in his infinite wisedome fore-saw it, he in his infinite [...]oodnesse to mankinde foretold it, and in his most just judge­ment, for the sinne of man, sent it, Gen. 6.17. For if this sad [...]ent could have been foreknown, this would have much added [...]o the Worlds condemnation, but much detracted from the ex­cellency of Noahs Faith; it would have been a slender commen­dation of Noahs Faith, and this instance a weake proofe of the Apostles suppositum, verse 1. Faith is the evidence of things not seen, if Noah had, or might have had a Mathematicall demon­stration of this warning of God. But Noah had Gods declara­tion for it and he tooke it on Gods word, which the unbe­ [...]eeving World derided, and while they jeered and mocked at the brediction (perhaps because the Starrs could not reveale this secret) he feared and expected the event, depending on Gods [...]eracity and power, he beleeved the revelation (for it was a warning from God) therefore feared the denunciation, Indubi­ [...]atum habuit eventum, quod Deus eventurum praedixerat, quod homines securi ut fabulam ridebant, & Noah, eo quod metuit, ut Insanum irridebant, Erasm. Paraphr.

[...], being circumspect and cautious thereupon, or pi­ [...]ously and religiously observing the divine vaticiny; or, as we reade it, moved with feare; or downright with the Vulgar, fear­ing; it is all one: for feare strikes men into religious thoughts of God; Primus in orbe Deos fecit timor, and makes men [Page 32]wary and wise in all their undertakings, and most sedulous a [...] carefull to avoide imminent and approaching dangers: and so followes, fearing he prepared, &c. his Faith moved him to fea [...] and his feare moved him to undertake the Fabricke. Some [...] deed place a Comma after fearing, and thut reade the words, [...] quae nondum videbantur veritas, or metuens, taking the foregoing clause into the sense of this word, feared the thing not seen; b [...] I take the ordinary reading to be fuller and clearer, he beleeve the things not seen, and thereupon feared, and fearing, he prep­red, &c. his preparation proceeded from his feare and his fe [...] from his Faith. But what? doth Faith worke feare; is not report of Conscience, in the sense of Gods love, the chiefest product on of Faith? and doth not this exclude feare?

The resolution is easie, and at hand, That though the princi­pall effect of Faith be love, and complacency in the love of God yet even this doth presuppose the full & adaequate object of Faith which is every revelation and proposition of God, the histori [...] precepts, promises, and threatnings of God, Faith makes use [...] any, or all of these, according to the exigency and condition of t [...] subject. The Beleever relies on the Promises, for his hope a [...] confidence; applyes the menaces and judgements to feare a [...] decline them; observes the histories for beliefe, and the precept for obedience; he yeilds a full assent to all Gods affirmations, cheerefull dependance on all his Promises, an uniforme obedi­ence to all his Precepts, and an humbled awe to all his threa [...] ­nings: For Faith in his full latitude and extent, respects all a [...] every one of these; and therefore Faith doth not exclude feare but beget and nourish it. And thus Noah beleeved all that God proposed, and particularly, having denounced wrath to com [...] therefore necessarily he must feare; and his feare comply [...] with all the other specified considerations; for as he feare the threatned Deluge, so he beleeved Gods prediction concern­ing it; and accordingly as God commanded, he prepared a Arke, and he was confident, that as God had promised, so b [...] that means he would most assuredly preserve him and his family it was not then the feare of a melancholy man which so distract and disturbes his mind, that he cannot bethinke himselfe [...] any case or remedy, but alwayes suspects, and is jealous of tho [...] [Page 33]remedies which are at hand, as experience testifies, when a well- [...]rovided Army betrayeth it selfe by a Panick feare, nor the feare [...]f a drowning man, whose reason is so suddenly, and wholly sur­prized, that it is altogether uselesse to him; Neither was it a feare of despaire, or distrust, like that of damned Spirits, for this [...] highly injurious to God, even a deniall, or doubting of his [...]ve and goodnesse; but it was a feare of Providence and cir­cumspection for himselfe and family; of reverence and affection [...] God; and certainely, this affection, if right set, have its true [...]bject, and wisely moderated, have its just temper, hath very much [...]f Religion in it, and is a maine instrument in the conversion [...]f the soule to God, and afterwards setling and confirming it: [...]hat which Faith first workth by, is the terrors of the Law; and [...]hat which keepeth our Faith in obedience, is the feare of wrath; [...]his is one principle and foundation of this work of our conver­ [...]on, for it makes men desirous to prevent, quo ad posse, the wills they dread, and layes a restraint upon their Spirits; and [...]hough Faith stands not here, but advanceth higher, stirring up [...]n the soule apprehensions of love and mercy; yet here it usu­ [...]ly begins, as appeareth from the demeanor of Saint Peters [...]onverts, Acts 2.37. and Saint Pauls, Acts 19.17.18.19. [...]hus the first motive of the Ninivites repentance, was a Ser­ [...]on of feare; the next and most immediate, an axiome of love; [...]he can tell, if God will, &c. Jonah 3.9. But I digresse, and will returne to Noahs feare, to shew wherein it consisted.

1. It was a preapprehension of those evills which God had [...]reatned, and this however a naturall affection to feare those wills, which we expect, yet is not sinfull, but commendable, and profitable, leading us (ut seta trahit post se filum, in Saint Augustines expression) to serious thoughts of Gods Power, Truth, Justice; and so disposeth us to seek and enquire for his [...]ercy and goodnesse: It expelleth carnall security, idlenesse, and [...]ensuality, the putting far away the evill day, Amos 6.3. and [...]ngageth to provide against a storme. Hence it is said, It is a [...]arefull thing to fall into the hands of the living Lord, Hebr. p. 31. The best, sinne, and so deserve wrath, and so need of this [...]ssion, to feare, and to fly from wrath to come: and because [...] hath denounced woe, woes against all disobedience, there­fore [Page 32] [...] [Page 33] [...] [Page 28] [...] [Page 29] [...] [Page 30] [...] [Page 31] [...] [Page 32] [...] [Page 33] [...] [Page 34]they cannot but feare, Amos 3.8. which is also exemp [...] fied in David, Psal. 119 120. My Flesh trembleth for fea [...] of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements.

2. It was a feare of care and caution, by repentance a [...] holinesse of life, to prevent the feared evills, not to touch t [...] accursed thing, not to cover the Babilonish garment, or wedge [...] gold, not to require meat for our lust; to decline and seperat [...] from all wicked associations and confederates, not to put th [...] hand to those wickednesses for which the wrath of God com­meth on the Children of disobedience: nay further yet not [...] act, consent, or counsell, to any designe which to us may see [...] repugnant to our Profession, or we may suspect to be preju­diciall to the service or worship of God, or injurious to o [...] neighbours, and wheresoever any doubt or feruple shall arise which way to follow, what to adhere unto, alwayes to chuse t [...] safer part, and the lesse suspitious, to avoid that course whe [...] possibly we may offend, though necessarily we shall not, and fol­low that, wherein certainely we shall not offend, though m [...] contrariant to our own desires, humors, and carnall interes [...] and advantages: this is rightly to serve God in feare, Psal. 2.1 [...]. To work out our salvation with feare and trembling. Phil. 2.13. The walking circumspectly, the duty of every prudent, wa [...] Christian, Eph. 5.15. and that we fall not (for it is possible fo [...] the best to fall) we must feare, Let him that think he standeth take heed, &c. 1 Cor. 10.12. and the Apostle proposeth the ca­veat, to the Christian Churches, from the exclusion of the Jew­ish, Rom. 11.20.

3. It was a feare of respect and reverence, both in respect of Gods Majesty, at whose presence the Angels cover their fa­ces, Es. 6. and also in consideration of Gods past goodnesse [...] and mercies towards them, and expectation of future deliveran­ces: Hence that expression, Psal. 130.4. There is mercy with thee, that thou mayest be feared: well he knew, that he that beleeveth in him, shall not be ashamed; well he knew, that his mercy was nigh them that feare him; that nothing more endeares and obliges God to us, then an unwillingnesse to displease him; nothing more restraines us from offending God then the contemplation of Gods Soveraigne Majesty, and re­membrance [Page 35]and expectation of his mercies; nothing more de­monstrates and expresseth our love to God, then our feare to offend him, res est soliciti, &c. 1 Pet. 1.17. Mal. 1.6. Well he knew there was a vast difference betwixt him that feareth, and him that feareth not; that ruine and destruction attends the latter, that mercy and deliverance is provided for the for­mer; and therefore Noah not onely feared, but that he might be capable of the mercies which are prepared for those that seare him, he prepared an Arke: which was an act of hope and con­fidence, that God would preserve, and is the second described effect of Noahs Faith.

He prepared an Arke, he provided the materialls; God or­dered the forme, God prescribed and lined the modell; Noah raysed the structure: the Platforme was Gods, the workeman­ship Noahs, which was a most cleare signall proofe of his Faith; whether we respect the act it selfe, or the many difficulties, and discouragements which accompanied it, and he was to en­counter, and struggle withall, in the composure of this Fa­bricke; For

• 1. The very subject it selfe required a great portion of Faith; for well might Noah thus argue with himselfe; Doth the good and gracious God delight in the ruine of his creatures? Made he the World to destroy it? or can nothing satisfie his wrath and justice, but an universall destruction and extermination? Will he actuate his threatnings to the height, and execute his Judge­ments with the greatest severity and rigor? Are all the passages of his goodnesse and tender mercies obstructed? No meanes to be used to mitigate and qualifie the hardnesse of the sentence, or is the Decree irreversible? Will he deface the World, the impresse of his glory? Will he destroy man, his own Image, curam divini ingenii, as Tertullian, his Masterpiece? These and many more quaeries might Noah have cogitated, to distrust the prediction, or dispured it, and to retard him in his designe, that he should not fall to his worke, or slackly follow it. But against all these carnall disputings, he proposes to himselfe Gods veracity and faithfulnesse; God hath thus declared his pleasure, hath pre­scribed and ordered me to frame this Building, there is no more dispute, no foreslowing of time, no neglect in the [Page 36]observance of the Order, God hath spoken, I must belee [...]
• 2. The difficulties which he would meet withall in the per­formance of his duty, might have staggered his Faith, and sto [...] his worke: For this also might he here have reasoned; Must I [...] necessity build an Arke, and this of so great a capacity and large­nesse? or what need the expence of so much money, labour, a [...] time, as will be required to this worke? How can I make [...] Arke of that stowage and bulke, as will containe the severall sp [...] ­cies of all creatures? or granting, I might make roome enough [...] yet what safety for me and my family, from the cruelty a [...] fiercenesse of ravenous beasts? what agreement or peace ca [...] be expected among them? How will it be possible to endur [...] the variety of the hideous shrikes, roaring, and wildnesses of th [...] sentitives of all sorts, or the filthinesse of their stinch and ex­crements? But granting these also; yet further, how shall [...] summons, or what authority will my summons have among [...] these untamed bruits? Will they be decoyed into the Arke a [...] my call? or supposing this to be feasable; yet where shall Pro­vision be had (as the Disciples to Christ, where shall we have Bread for this multitude) where shall Victuals be found to furnish a Magazine? or where a Magazine, to containe sufficient sto [...] for the sustentation of all these? or how shall that variety o [...] Provision be brought in, as will serve for the nutriment of these strange different natures? Or how was it possible for eight Per­sons to fodder and serve them all every day, and give them every one their allowance? But allowing these also to be possible; yet how shall so great a bulke, of that burden and capacity escape the rage of the madnesse of the Waters and Winds; or splitting and foundering on some rocks or mountaines? or escaping the rockes, how shall I manage this hitherto unknowne Engine? or what judgement can I have in this undiscovered Art? But waving all these thoughts too, how shall this designe goe on, which is so ridiculous and absurd to all the world? which i [...] so odious and ungratefull to all men, that none will yeeld any asistance; all of them, either jeere and deride the worke, or hinder and stop it.

These, and such like thoughts and disputes as these, might have shaken his resolution, and puzled, if not non-plussed his [Page 37]Faith; and either broke the designe, and quashed the attempt, or made it goe on slowly or slackly.

But Noah is constant and faithfull to his Master, and his ser­vice; he knew whom he trusted, whom he served, and therefore [...]eighted all these pretended difficulties, and seeming impossibi­lities, the scornes and derisions of carnall men, and follow his businesse closely and cheerefully: Well he knew, that God is infinite in Power and Wisedome, and whatsoever he willeth, [...]e doth in Heaven and in Earth; that he is true and just in all his Decrees and Promises; that he could by his word, and for his words sake, would strengthen and animate his spirit to goe through with his worke, enable him to performe all those duties imposed on him, endure all those hardships, remove all those obstacles and impossibilities which flesh and bloud could object against him, and that God would carry on this worke by him, in despight of all opposition, difficulties, and discourage­ments; for he was faithfull that Promised, and therefore upon the performance of the command of God, he obtained the reward, Preservation of himselfe and family, which is not so much an effect, as a consequent recompence of his Faith. For so it followes,

To the saving of his House, eight Soules, in Saint Peters ex­pression, 1 Pet. 3.10. that is, eight individualls, or Persons, and no more of his family, or his house, were saved. And who these eight were, we have Recorded, Gen. 6.18. himselfe, his Wife, his three Sonnes, Sem. Ham, and Japheth, and their re­spective Wives, none of his servants, none of his Parents, though the Posterity of Enoch, were taken in; these followed the garbe of the world, contemned, and mocked Noahs feare and designe, which condemned the world, and them with it: For thats the next clause which is to be explained;

By which he condemned the World, [...], he condemned, and adjudged them to the Deluge: And here, as it was said of Athanasius, Totus mundus contra Athanasian, Athanasius contra totum mundum: The world condemned him as foolish, and his Arke as frivolous; he condemnes the world by the Arke of im­piety and irreligion, and to destruction and ruine: this an effect contrary to the former: the Arke saved him and his, but condemned the world in two respects.

[Page 38]1. The Structure of the Ark, which if the world had bee [...] teachable, had been an Instruction and Exhortation to Repen­tance and Reformation, that while there was time, it might pre­vent the sad judgement denounced against it, for its exorbitan­cies, and prodigious impieties: And probably it is, that No [...] during the time of the building of the Arke, was sedulous an [...] frequent in his Exhortation to amendment of life; for, fro [...] this, it seems, he is called, a Preacher of Righteousnesse, 2 Pet. 2. [...] and the world for not harkning to his admonitions, and not o [...] serving Gods long-suffering, while the Arke was preparing, [...] called, the disobedient World, 1 Pet. 3.20.

2. The event it selfe sheweth us how the Arke condemned the world; before the Deluge came, they mocked it; but afte [...] it approached, they sought to it for sanctuary, but could not b [...] admitted; when they saw the danger was unavoidable, then, and never till then, did they beleeve it, did they seek to avoid it [...] Certainely, when they perceived they must Drowne, their vai [...] hopes and presumptions had deceived them, and that the Ark [...] floated above the Waters in security; this sight, and apprehen­sion, would confound and amaze them, and force from them [...] sentence of condemnation on themselves, and a confession, that they justly deserved, what befell them; just as it is described by the Author of the Booke of Wisedome, c. 5. v. 1. ad 10. Thi [...] then was their condemnation, they had time to repent before the Deluge; after they shall have no more time, they all shall perish; but Noah by the Arke is saved, and by his Faith in pre­paring it, is entituled and made Heire of that Righteousnesse which is by Faith.

Became Heire, he succeeded Abel and Enoch in the honour, and reward of Righteousnesse, and of that Righteousnesse which is by Faith, an Evangelicall, not Legall Righteousnesse; an Heire not by birth, but by Adoption; not by workes of the Law, but Faith; which Righteousnesse of Faith is two-fold. One imputed, which Faith embraceth and apprehendeth. The other inhaerent, which Faith produceth and actuateth. The first is perfect, because it is Christs Righteousnesse, accepted as ours, and is nothing else, but the remission of our sinnes, and the ac­ceptation of our persons in and for Christ. The second is im­perfect, [Page 39]because of sinne dwelling in our members, yet requi­ [...]ed of us, it being the Character and Seale of Gods Spirit within [...]s, or assurance of our Heireship, and fruit of our Adoption, [...]nd in plaine termes, it is the mortification of sinnes and lusts, [...]nd a sincere purpose and endeavour of a new life in righteous­nesse and holinesse; which Noah in some degrees performing, thereby obtained the power and right to become the sonne of God, heire of that other righteousnesse which is by faith, that [...]s this, as to Noah, so to us, conveyes, estates, seales, and ra­ [...]ifies our Adoption, and after, possession of Heaven, which faith [...]erives and communicates to us, for, and by the mercies of God, [...]n the merits of Jesus Christ; for in the Gospel-sense, Son and Heire, are termini aequipollentes; as every Heire is a Son, so every [...]on is an Heire too; for if a Son then an Heire, Gal. 4.7. If Children, (and Children we are by faith in Jesus Christ, Gal. 3. [...]6.) then Heires, Heires of God, and coheires with Christ, the onely begotten, the well-beloved Son, Rom. 8.17. by, and from whom, we receive the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we try Abba Father; which is also, in the Apostles expression, the being Heire of the World, Rom. 4.13. not of this sublunary, transient, cheating world; but the new world, the world to come, Heb. 2.5. the promised and expected new Heavens, and new Earth, 2 Pet. 3.13. Thus it is declared, The meeke shall inherit the Earth, Mat. 5.5. not this Earth, full of fraud, violence and injustice, but that wherein righteousnesse dwelleth; for they are, were, and so counted themselves, verse 13.14. of this Chapter, Strangers and Pilgrims here on Earth: their hopes, their inheritance, their countrey is in that new Jerusalem which is above, eternall in the Heavens. Come Inherit, &c. saith our Saviour, Mat. 25.24. Adam had no further grant, no larger conscession then a Legall Possession, an Earthly Paradise; and his estate was contingent, subject to mutation and change: Moses his assurances and demises to the Jews, were confined to the Land of Canaan; more he could not grant, or secure: but the supernaturall heavenly possession, incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, is reserved for, and made over to the heires of that righteousnesse which is by faith; which that we may obtaine and enjoy to all Eternity, let us follow after, and pracrise [Page 40]holinesse and righteousnesse, according to these following is structions from the words thus cleered.

The Second Part.

1. This warning of God unto Noah, confirmes the Apostle description of faith; Faith is the substance, &c. If God threate [...] any judgement, or promise any mercy, the judgement is as cer­taine as if it were executed, and the mercy as sure, as if posses­sed; though they have no actuall being in themselves, ye [...] Gods word gives them a certaine subsistence, and our beleife o [...] his word, give us a certaine assurance of the truth and issue Gods power and veracity, makes all his threats and promises un­avoidable and infallible, and our faith makes them evident an [...] secure to us; and we thereby depending on Gods truth and faith­fulnesse, gather both confidence and assurance. For thus th [...] Apostle argues, Let us beleeve, without wavering, for he [...] faithfull that promised, Heb. 10.33. and thus he positively con­cludes, Faith depends on the Word of God, Rom. 10.17. Indee [...] the Word of God is not declared to us in the latter Age, as i [...] was to Noah, (for he had this warning either by immediate Re­velation from God himselfe or by the Embassie of one, or more Angels; but to us, Gods warnings and oracles are transmitted, and signified by the writings of the Prophets and Apostles) yet the obligations of our faith are equall and alike; for whenso­ever God issueth forth his Revelations and Declarations to men [...] he therewith gives them assurances, they have like expresses of his will, besides the certitudinem objecti, the certainty of the Revelations themselves, which are infallably true, because the Decree is of the Spirit of Truth, who cannot lie; he will super­adde (such is his goodnesse and mercy) certitudinem subjecti; we shall be ascertained that they are his Revelations, if with humbled hearts, devout Prayers, and sincere holy obedience, we endeavour to know his will, God will discover his will, Psal. 25.9.10. and 14. Ioh. 8.31.32. Ioh. 7.17. give unto us the Spi­rit of obsignation and knowledge, a certainty of adherence, as well as of evidence, making us not onely to beleeve, but even to know, and be as fully assured, that it is the Word of Christ, as those which have heard it with their eares, and which saw it with their eyes: For as Noah was secure, that this warning was [Page 41]no Satanicall suggestion, or illusion, no private fancy, or delu­sion of his owne braine, but a divine revelation; so God hath given unto the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles, such splendor and sufficiency of light, and appointed us such me­diums, cleare wayes and means for the discovery and compre­hension of that light, as may make them appear to all, not wilfully, or maliciously blinde, that they are his word, and con­taine in them a full declaration of his will, he confirmes and seales in the hearts of all Beleevers, the truth of their Writings, 1 Ioh. 5.10. He engraves them, in the Prophet Jeremies ex­pression, Ier. 31.33. In those dayes I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts: he sets such impres­sions, and leaves such characters of divine truth in the spirits of his people, that they cannot but acknowledge the Scriptures for the Oracles and Dictates of the holy Spirit: We have a more sure word of Prophesie: God in their Writings hath declared what is sinne and transgression, and the severity of his wrath against sinne; he hath expressed what godlinesse is, and the great rewards and happinesses he hath awarded to them that leade a godly life. O then let the heavinesse of his threatnings, deterre us from sinne; let his gracious Promises invite and in­cite us to Repentance; let his judgements keep us in his feare; [...]et his invitations and offers of mercy, keep us in obedience; let us seriously consider, that he hath revealed wrath against every soule that doth evill, that holds the truth in unrighteous­nesse, except ye repent, ye shall all perish; and let us alwayes remember, that he hath proposed mercy to all humbled peni­tents, sincere converts; he that confessieth, and forsaketh his sins, shall finde mercy; mercy in his life, and the whole course thereof, at the houre of his death, and in the day of judgement. God hath done his part to preserve us from wrath, and reserve us for mercy, and mercy for us; if we sleight his judgements, undervalue his mercies, we have no colour, no pretence of plea, we are altogether inexcusable, our destruction is of our selves, because like Jerusalem, we would not be warned: Observe but Gods method, how he cleares himselfe from the ruine of his people, how he chargeth it wholly upon themselves; First he proposeth to every private mans Conscience his dealing with [Page 42]them, and refers it to their judgement, Deut. 30.15. See, I ha [...] set before thee this day, life and good, and death and evill: He cal [...] upon them to observe, and to acquit him when they are judged he tells them plainely, that they cannot pretend ignorance; [...] thou deest well, shalt thou not be accepted? thou shalt be ac­cepted; If thou doest evill, sinne lyeth at the doore, and Dea [...] the wages of sinne; but if thou wilt not see, nor observe, th [...] he recites his proposals againe, offering Life to thee if thou w [...] hearken, verse 16. denouncing Death, if thou refusest to hea [...] verse 17.18. and if none of these will serve the turne, then [...] acquits and justifies himselfe, by open Proclamation, before [...] the World, verse 19. I call Heaven and Earth to Record the day against you, that I have set, &c. And the more clearely [...] sets it before thee, if thou observe not, thy contempt is t [...] greater, thy punishment shall be greater: Thou, O Christian hast, or may have, a most plentifull Revelation, the way of li [...] and death is more distinctly set before thee, then before t [...] former Age of the World; if thou decline the way of life, a [...] tread in the paths of death, thy sinne is so much the mo [...] heightned, thy judgements shall be more intended and multi­plied. It is the Apostles affirmation upon the same reason Heb. 10, 26. If we sinne, &c. the consequent is sad and di [...] ­mall, verse 27. and the reason is a fortiori, verse 28.29. an [...] it is the same Apostles Exhortation, grounded on the same rea­son, Heb. 2.1. Therefore we ought to give, &c. that is his Ex­hortation; and the Reason is, verse 2.3.4. For if the Wor [...] spoken by Angels (as perhaps this to Noah was) was stedfast, are every transgression and disobedience, received, &c.

2. This warning of so long date, is a pregnant proofe, and remarkeable example of Gods patience and long suffering to­wards malitious, incorrigible sinners; For first, he doth not a [...] the first punish, but premonisheth them of their sinnes, and th [...] demerits thereof, sollicites and invites their repentance. An [...] secondly, he allowes them a long time for repentance, punish­eth them not, when in justice he might take vengeance, and execute his wrath; not as if God, were not naturally and im­mutably just; but because he is a most free disposer of hi [...] judgements, and payes them, when, and in what manner [Page 43]seemeth good to him in his infinite wisedome; and forbeares [...]he punishment of impieties alwayes upon weighty and impor­tant reasons. The first is to shew his propensity to the acts of grace and mercy, his unwillingnesse, and indisposition to our in force the acts of his tevenging justice; so he solemnly protests, As I live, saith the Lord, I delight not in the death [...]f a sinner, &c. Ezech. 33.11. which the Apostle seconds, 2 Pet. [...].9. The Lord is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that, &c. in his mercy he is [...], Gen. 18.32. meek, not irritable, not easily provoked, [...], gentle, easily entreated, 2 Cor. 10.1. [...], overseeing, looking beyond our sinnes, passeth by them, dissimulat peccata propter poenitentiam, in his mercy, there is [...], Rom. 2.4. when he cannot but see, he forbeares, [...], Neh. 9.30.31. suffers long, many times, many years, [...], Hos. 11.8 9. when he is about to punish, he is at a stand, asking, How shall I, &c. and then resolves into conditions of mercy, I will not execute, &c. he stayes, expectat ut misereatur, Es. 30.18. And when he executes wrath, he doth alienum opus, that which his nature declines; he doth it with regret, and reluctan­cy, For he doth not afflict willingly, not from the heart, Lam. 3.33. He forgives, destroyes not, Psal. 78.38. and when he punishes, he is weary, Isay 40.2. The second reason is, That, God moderating his judgements with such meeknesse and merciful­nesse, not suffering his whole displeasure to arise, and so long suspending the execution of his sentence, he might barre the incorrigible, refractory malignant of all excuses, and shiftings; both which reasons are declared by the Apostle, Rom. 2.4.5. the judgement is unavoidable, and the judged inexcusable, for that the Judgement was passed through their own default, and for their contempt after processe and issue. O then let not us sleight or trifle with Judgements, but seriously observe and ap­ply them, considering that his premonitions and warnings are given out, to bring us to repentance; and let not us by our se­curity, or contempt, frustrate our selves of those happinesses, and advantages, which God hath gratiously consigned them to us for our good: he threatens before he punisheth, that his menaces of ruine might be a meanes of our reformation, occasi­ons of, and provocations to repentance; let us then comply [Page 44]with him in his designe, be moved and affected with his threat [...] not to suffer our eyes to sleep, nor our eye-lids to slumber, ne [...] ­ther the temples of our head to take any rest, untill we make u [...] of all these means, take hold of all these opportunities of mer [...] which he hath endulged to us, untill we be at peace with him [...] and he reconciled to us, and remove all impediments which ma [...] prevent the true and sanctified use of his Judgements: I sha [...] but breifly nominate three. The first is neglect, when we for­get his past Judgements, as old news, or obligations growne o [...] of date, as Pharaoh did, Exod. the 7.8.9.10. Chap. and the fre­quent crime of the Israelites, as we finde it inventoried, Psal. 78. The second is, when we scorne and contemne his premonition of future Iudgements, which the Psalmist hath noted out to u [...] and fully expressed, Psal. 10.4.5.6. The third, which is mo [...] usuall, is the mis-interpretation of his Iudgements, as if w [...] were not the men he aymed at, they concerned not us: hence in the Prophet Ieremies expression, we settle on our lees, sooth our selves in our sinnes, turne the streame another way, and shift off the application of them from our selves; and hence also many times his Iudgements overtake us, and come upon us be­fore we are aware; hence when we cry, Peace, Peace, behold destruction and sudden calamity, as of a Woman in travell: Iudge our selves then, that we be not Iudged.

3. Noah was warned, and warned he was of God, not onely in a Publique generall way, but by a private missive, a particular expresse from Heaven: not onely of the wrath which was to come, but further advertised of means to avoid it; God declared unto him the whole pleasure of his will in that concernment; so true is that of the Prophet, Amos 3.7. Surely the Lord will doe nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants; even as a Prince imparts his designes to his favourites and confidents: Thus he honoured Abraham, Gen. 18.17. and thus still he con­tinues his respects to such as seare him in the great concern­ments of their soules; he discovers to them (that is his friends and savourites) the great mystery of salvation by Jesus Christ; for so we are assured, Iohn 15.15. Henceforth I call you not servants, thats a too low and vulgar salutation and respect, for the servant knoweth not, &c. The Psalmists assertion still holds, [Page 45] The secret of the Lord is with them that feare him, and his co­ [...]nant to make them know it, Psal, 25.14.

4. Noah was warred, and the warning moved him to feare, which occasioned contempt and scorne in others: Noah took [...]e warning, the World derided it; The consequents of this [...]arning were different, according to the diversity of the sub­jects on which it wrought: Tis a maxime in Phylosophy, [...]icquid recipitur, recipitur ad modum recipientis; the same [...]quivocall cause, produceth severall effects, according to the [...]spositions of the subjects which derive vertue from it; the same [...]nne at once melteth Butter, and hardeneth Clay; the same [...]bstance of meat, affords good nourishment to a vigorous body, [...]d becomes hurtfull to a diseased; and it holds in Religion: [...]e same mercy from God findes different interpretations, and [...]es, by different men: the malitious Iewes blaspemed, when [...]mbled converts beleeved Christs Miracles; they follow him, [...] Crucifie him, those follow him, to obey him; they to rebell against him, these to submit to him: If God blesse a wicked [...]an with temporall prosperity, he turnes this blessing into a [...]urse, abusing it to the satisfaction of some immoderate lust; [...]f a goly man receive the same portion, he makes a sanctified [...]se of it, imploying it for his Lords honour, and his own pre­ [...]ent, and after advantages; the one growes wanton, proud, in­ [...]olent, intemperant, and what not; this other makes it a pro­ [...]ocation and inducement to thankfulnesse, and obedience; so [...]n adversity the difference is easily discernable; a wicked man [...]ormes, frets and troubles himselfe with impatiency, and others with the turbulency of his spirit; a righteous man submits with [...]almenesse and meeknesse of spirit, possesseth his soule in pati­ence, he neither disquiets, nor injures any other; and, as Gods dispensations finde such different entertainment, so his acts of grace, so the Judgements of his mouth: Tell an obstinately per­verse sinner of pardon of his sinnes, if he will timously and sin­cerely repent, this message will be welcommed with the same respect from him, that a proclaimed act of oblivion shall receive from him who is resolved to abase and bafle Majesty; denounce sentence of woe against him for his impenitency and contempt, he esteemes no more of these, then Luther did of the Popes [Page 46]Bulls, to be bruta fulmiua, meer scarcrowes, or a few idle wor [...] to abuse the well-meaning simplicity of Fooles and Children [...] let the same Proposition of Peace be tendred to a righteous soule, who by the prevalency of some lust hath fallen from [...] obedience, he with joy and thankfulnesse accepts, renewes [...] vowes, and re-obligeth himselfe to an inviolable observance [...] all Gods decrees and edicts: Declare to him wrath against eve [...] soule that sinneth, this dissolveth him into humiliation and co [...] ­trition of spirit, makes him cautious and timorous at any ti [...] after to offend Gods glorious Majesty. O then let us make [...] sanctified use of all Gods dispensations, of all his promises, a [...] his threats, this will distinguish us from the World, and disco [...] unto our selves the fincerity of our hearts; no safer, no su [...] way of tryall of our own hearts, then to observe what are [...] productions of Gods dealings upon our spirits, what effects t [...] terrors of his Law, the proposals of his Gospel, and the expres­ses of his love, hath wrought in us; if they have pulled down in us the strong holds of sinne, if they have captivated eve [...] rebellious thought to the obedience of Christ, if they have red [...] ­ced and reformed us, that we feare to offend, that we desire a [...] delight to please him; then happy are the People which be in su [...] a case, then blessed are these People which have the Lord f [...] their God, tis an infallible signe we are in Christ, we have tr [...] Faith, as Noah had, who obeyed Gods order, beleeved his pr [...] ­mises, feared his warning; for these were the results of Noah Faith, which first moved him to feare, and afterwards to obey [...] and this leades me on to a further Observation.

5. Noah feared; a most genuine, and direct act of Faith [...] for that he feared the Deluge at that distance, proceeds from his Beleife of the warning; the rest of the World beleeve [...] it not, took not the warning, held it a superstition, or a weake­nesse or a madnesse to beleeve it, and therefore they feared it not Infidelity is the root of all sinne, Faith the originall of all Piety and certainly Noah had a large measure of Faith, which coul [...] work this motion of spirit in him, in opposition to all th [...] World, and in despight of his naturall infirmities; that har [...] threat, [I will Destroy] might perhaps at the first, strike him in [...] to a Passion; but then, the protraction of the sentence, aft [...] [Page 47]the prediction, might easily have seduced and betraied him into [...]relesnesse and forgetfulnesse, as naturally we have experimented, [...]ough we all know we must dye, yet all of us almost, think and [...]nceit with our selves, not yet, not yet, when there is yet day­ [...] occasion of the feare, of the approaches of Death; For ‘Tarde, quae credita laedunt,’ [...]edimus; and then we are most apt to forget, what pleaseth not [...]sh and blood, besides the disadvantage of time, which eates [...]t the memory of such predictions: But Noahs Faith, Time [...]uld not devoure, would not suffer him to forget, or be secure; [...]t like a faithfull remembrancer, puts him in minde of the [...]arning, keeps him in feare and expectation of the event, and [...]akes him both wise and active: Doubtlesse, true Faith, and [...]ue Feare, are compatible in the same subject; Noah beleeved, [...]erefore he feared; and so all they who doe beleeve, doe feare; [...]nd none truely feares, but they also beleeve; not as the Devils [...]eleeve and tremble, for they hate what they beeleeve and [...]emble at: but as Gods children, who love and affect what they [...]eleeve and feare, and is alwayes in conjunction with bold­ [...]esse and confidence. That Son which is naturall and inge­ [...]uous, the more hopes and assurances he hath of his Fathers [...]vour, (which are the supports of boldnesse) the more reve­ [...]ently will he demeane himself towards his father, the more cau­ [...]ous and timorous to displease him; and it is knownly ex­ [...]erimented, that where mens chiefest hopes and dependancies [...]es, there they reserve their respects and endeavours to please, which are the proper issues of feare; from whom we expect [...]othing, them we value not, their displeasure we feare not; [...]ut on whom we depend, we feare to lose their favour, and [...]his makes us both ingenuous, and diligent to preserve it: The Master of the Sentences, and with him, generally all the Schoolemen, out of Austine, demonstrates this, by the simili­tude of a tender Wife, who both loves and feares her Husband; [...]eares his absence, feares his displeasure, feares the losse of his company, respects and honours his presence, and is sollicitous to please him in every respect; and so, omnis pius, sollicite [...]ius; for when I feare, I feare him not, as I feare a wilde beast, [Page 48]hate him, and fly from him; but I honour him as my na [...] rall superiour, [...], Clem. Alexand. l. [...] Strem. for this feare is not a naturall effect, but a supernatur [...] habit, a gift of the holy Ghost, Is. 11.2. opposite to hardne [...] of heart, Prov. 28.14. and is the great stay and strength [...] Religion that men neither irreverently and rudely rush i [...] Gods presence in the offices of his service, as the horse rush [...] into the battell, Eccles. 5.1.2. nor carelesly neglect, or ne [...] ­genly performe the work of the Lord; for by feare we are [...] structed (as the same Clemens expresseth) [...], to ma [...] our addresses to God with reverence, humility, submission [...] affection or devotion of spirit; then we truely worship and se [...] God, when we feare him, insomuch, that his worship and [...] feare are the same, Es. 29.13. Mat. 15.9. If God had not [...] his feare into the hearts of the Sons of men, they would h [...] had no heart to seek God; and they that feare him not, p [...] formes to him, if any, none but dull and flat services: He [...] Davids resolution, Psal. 5.7. and our Saviour himselfe, (th [...] whom (I presume) none can be more bold with God the Fath [...] presented his Prayers, and was heard, [...], Heb. 5. [...]. for his piety, or that he was affected with feare; and its the ob­servation of learned Camerarius, on these words, Certe qui [...] metuunt, neque precantur, neque inter precandum, exclaman [...] and Lectantius is full to the same purpose, lib. de ira Dei, cap [...] Quomodo (saith he) ipsa religio sine metu teneri aut custediae pote [...] Quod enim non metuitur, contemnitur, quod contemnitur, utiq [...] non colitur. And the Apostle resolves us, if our latria worsh [...] of God be acceptable, it must be done with reverence, a [...] [...], againe, godly feare, and the reason is subjoyned, P [...] our God, &c. Heb. 12.28.29. O then let not us provo [...] him to jealousie, not slubber over his service, nor throng in [...] his holy assemblies rudely and undecently, nor behave our selv [...] irreverently; but let us sadly remember, that this God wh [...] we serve, he, and he onely, is to be feared; and therefore th [...] we offer no service, present no suite, tender no duty, but wi [...] bowed hearts, broken spirits, and humbled soules; this o [...] feare hath a speciall influence, not onely in our services of Go [...] but in the whole course of our life, Gen. 20.11. it preserves [...] [Page 49]from Apostacy, from Schisme, and uncharitablenesse; which we [...]ay safely conclude from that remarkable passage, Ier. 32.39.40. I will put, &c. and it is thus Interpreted by Aug. de bona perse. [...]ap. 2. Talis & tantus erit, timor meus, quem dabo in cor eorum, [...]t perseveranter & mihi adhaereant. Hence Saint Cyprian l. 2. Ep 2. calls it, fidelis innocentiae custos; And the Psalmist inti­mates thus much, Psal. 36.1.2. The wickednesse of the wicked [...]ith, that there is no feare of God before his eyes. Hence the Schooles resolve, In tantum timemus, in quantum amamus; as our love is perfected, so is our feare; and as our love shall last when our Faith shall cease, so our feare shall endure; which they gather from Psal. 19.9 here we live by love and hope, and be­cause we love, therefore we respect; because we hope for good from God, therefore we feare him, lest by neglect of him, we [...]se that good we expect from him, and hereafter our feare of him shall accompany our love, and be compleated with it, even [...]he holy Angels, all his Saints which are, or shall be, shall feare him to all Eternity; Non quidem secundum eum actum, quo me­ [...]uitur vel offensa Dei, vel separatio a Deo; sed secundum actum quendam reverentiae ortae ex consideratione ejus majestatis, Estius l. 3. sent. dist. 34. But not onely his presence and majesty, but also his threats and judgements are to be feared, a Beleever without any contradiction to his confidence or assurance of Gods favour, when his judgements are abroad his wrath burnes like fire, as Noah was so he may, and ought to be moved with feare; even Gods Power, his Justice, and Wrath ought to be feared, and he to be feared for his wrath. An evident proofe hereof we have in our Saviours warning to his Disciples, Luke 12.4.5. And I say unto you my friends, even to you, under this capacity and consideration, as my friends, be not afraid, &c. And hereupon Aug. tr. 41. in Ioh. exhorts, Si non potes amare justi­tiam, time vel poenam, ut pervenias ad amandum justitiam; and Clemen Alexand. l. 2. Strom. gives a reason, When we will fly [...]ut (and the best and most faithfull are sometimes too extrava­gant) and neither reason nor advice reduce us, [...], feare will tame and subdue, even as Fire melteth Wax, and makes it apt to receive any shape, or impression; so feare mollifies our spirits, softeneth our hardened hearts, and so makes them [Page 51]capable of the image and impresses of Gods spirit; and her me thinks Solomons character of a wise man, and a foole, i [...] very observable, Prov. 14.16. A wise man feareth, and departed from evill; but the foole rageth, and is confident; so much diffe­rence is there betwixt him that feareth, and him that fearet [...] not, as there is betwixt a confident foole (that hath a strong sancy he beleeves, and upon that account rageth and vaporeth but hath no ground for his confidence and beleife) and a so be discreet man, who walkes circumspectly, takes a care and make a conscience of his wayes, and dare not touch an accursed thing And hereupon in Scripture, we reade of trembling at Gods word Isay 66.2. of being afraid of his judgements, Psal. 110.120 and that expression Ier. 26.19. Did he not feare the Lord, a [...] besought him: they are best prepared to seek, who feare him And that other connaxion, Zeph. 3.7. Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction: Feare removes precipitancy an [...] inadvertency, cuts off carelesnesse and security, it is the begin­ning. that is, the excellency of Wisedome, the introduction to Wisedome, [...], the first nurcery of Wisedome, as Clemens Alexand. stiles it; [...], as Aristotle, it makes men serious and considering, ingenuous to invent, and diligent to use all meanes of enstruction; and therefore Paen directed his speech, delivered his enstructions to them that feared God, Acts 13.16. Ye that feare God, give audience proud, cerelesse. fearelesse hearers, will be but unprofitable livers, This word of salvation which he Preached, was sent to such Act 13.26. and so Clemens stiles it, [...], a pre­vious disposition to grace. But most full to this purpose is that Habb. 3.16. When I heard, my belly trembled. my lips qut [...]ered at the voice and I trembled, &c. Let Heathenish Stoicks fancy and tell us that a wife man is not subject to passions: let a Chri­stian Stoicke copceit, and Preach, a Beleever is beyond feare, he is not to eye Gods. Judgements or Justice: let me tell him Habbakkuk did, and David did so too, 2 Sam 6.9. and after he had murthered his faithfull servant Ʋriah, he feared lest the sentence of wrath, denounced against Caire, for his murder, or of Saul, for his disobedience, should fall upon him, as some of the ancients have conceited, and not without some probability of [Page 50]reason from his serious petitions, Psal. 51. The 18. Psalme is a Prayer or deliverance from death and destruction. The 75. Psalme a Prayer against the terrors of the day of Iudgement. And Psalme 76. a Prayer, that we may feare Gods judgements, and not to be moved with the terror of men; and therfore also are we warned to remember Lots Wife, Luke 17.32. But that which cleares all, and makes the Observation undeniable, is the exam­ple of the whole Church, upon whom an example of Gods Iustice so wrought, that it cast them into a panick feare, for so runs the Record, Great feare came upon all the Church, and upon, &c. Acts 5.11. O then let not us dare to offend God in a presumption of his mercy; let us feare to offend, in the consideration of his Iustice; Soli filii irae, iram non sentiunt, saith Hierome, none but the Sons of wrath, are insensible of wrath; let us not dally with Gods Iudgements, or in a vaine fancy, perswade our selves, surely the bitterness is past; but let us seriously remember and observe them, whether expressed in his word or declared in his works of Providence; and if it shall please him to punish us, and shew his displeasure by Publique calamities and distractions, and by personall sufferings, O then let us humble our selves under the mighty hand of God, and re­ligiously feare him, and then none of those evils shall move or disquiet us. To feare Poverty, Banishment, Imprisonment, or Death it selfe, Imbecilis est animi, qui vero Deum metuit, illa universa non metuit, Lact. l. 6. c. 15.17. no sorrow or sadnesse shall perplex us, no contingencies nor temporall infelicities di­stract or disturbe us, no humane policies or powers affright, or dismay us; but this feare of God will strengthen us, relieve us against all humane, worldly, carnall feares, and either expell them, or moderate them, Is. 8.12.13. Psal. 46.1.2.3 4. It will make us wise to prevent dangers, to provide meanes of safety, before destruction commeth. O then let not us be like the World in Noahs time, drowned in security, before the De­luge overwhelmed them; nor like Lots Sonnes, Gen. 19 14. or like those in Zeph. 1.12. or Gedalia, not beleeve or feare, till we finde and feele the wofull effects of our dis-beliefe and security, the heavy wrath of God, and his eternall vengeance seizing on, and surprising us, Ier. 40.14.14. but let us, as [Page 52] Noah, observe Gods warnings, and threats; let us beleeve then and ponder them in our hearts, and by unfained repentance and sincere resolutions of obedience, fly from eternall wrath pro­vide for eternall happinesse, and then our Faith and Feare shall be recompenced, as Noah was, when the world of ungodly im­penitents shall be destroyed, we being in the Arke of Christ Church shall be saved. This was Noaks policy, he feared, and therefore sought a way for deliverance and preservation, and therefore prepared an Arke, which was a consequent of his feare [...] and another effect of his Faith.

6. God warned Noah to build, and Noah prepared an Arke [...] to preserve him and his, God is not so austere, or rigorous in his judgements, but that his goodnesse may be signally noted; in his greatest judgements, he declares his mercy, and his mercy rejoyceth against Iudgement; For here

1. To his threats of destruction, he immediately subjoyne [...] a promise for salvation. Gen. 7.8. and 13.14. thus it happened to our first Parents, that sentence of Death, Morti morieris, was pronounced against them; but with the same breath, a Pro­mise of mercy; and salvation was Proclaimed, The Seed of the Woman shall, &c. In the same times, Jerusalems Captivity, and its restauration is Prophesied, It shall be carried into Babylon; but it shall be freed too. Davids Children, If they offend they shall be chastised with Rods of men; but his loving lindnesse shall not totally depart from them.

2. In the largest extent and generallity of Gods Iudge­ments, there is still a reservation, some exception; In this Uni­versall Deluge, Noah, and his Sons, and their respective Wives, are Priviledged, and exempted Persons. In the devastation of Sodome and Gomorrah, Let is within the qualification of mercy, and Zohar escaped. Rahab was not destroyed with Ie­vicho. Ieremy and some others with him, were not led into Captivity with the Jews; and though ever since the Jews re­jected Christ, God hath rejected them; yet there is a residue, a reserve, according to the Election of Grace, Rom. 11.5. still a remnant is preserved for the manifestation of his mercy, and goodnesse.

3. Many times the godly are not mixed, and confounded [Page 53]with the wicked; tis true, sometimes they are; but it is as cer­vine that many times they are not: The lofty admired Edifices, [...]tely Palaces, strong Castles of the Earth, could not withstand [...] fury of the Deluge, nor protect their proud Possessors: But [...]ah shall be saved in an Arke, a contemned and jeered bun­ [...] of Wood; no Stormes or Tempests shall Drowne it. God [...]ll feed Jacobs Family, when the Inhabitants of the Earth [...]re dryed up with Famine. When the destroying Angell kil­ [...] the first Borne of Egypt, the Houses signed with the Blood [...] the Lambe, were preserved, Ezech. 9.4. Psal. 11.6.7. At [...] generall conflagration of the World, 2 Pet. 3.7.10. the [...]eevers shall escape, and be saved, though by Fire. O happy [...]y, when Gods Iudgements appear, shall be found of him in [...]ee, without spot, and blamelesse, they shall not be confoun­ded in the perillous times, and in the dayes of Dearth they all have enough; the Waters shall not Drowne them, nor [...] Fire consume them; the Waters shall beare them up, and [...] Fire save them; these wilde impetuous Elements (of which usually say, they are the best servants, and worst masters) shall serve the orders and decrees of Heaven; and when God is [...]ased to make a distinction, he will give them a spirit of [...]cerning, to difference betwixt them that feare him, and them [...]t feare him not; its his promise to his Church, and he will [...]ke it good, Is. 43.1.2.3.

7. Noah prepared an Arke; God promised to save him, but was on this score, that he would make an Arke; its not Faith, [...] over-daring presumption which neglects or contemnes [...]nest and just wayes and means; to depend on God for our [...]dily sustentation, or for our everlasting salvation, and not to [...] our labour and industry in those practises his Word pre­ [...]bes unto us, is not to beleeve in God, but tempt him; he [...]t in good earnest entends to come to Heaven, must use all [...]e and diligence to performe the conditions of the promises; must worke out his salvation with feare and trembling, strive [...]h all diligence to make his calling and election sure. O then us not deceive our selves, presume without warranty, that we [...] in the Faith; let me tell you, true Faith beleeves the con­ [...]ons, as well as the promise; it beleeves the Article of Re­mission [Page 54]of sinnes, but upon this condition, that we repent, a bring forth the fruit of a holy life; our duty must answer grace, and then his grace will assist us in our duty: God will no longer our God then we are his People; and we are so l [...] his People, as we submit to his Laws, and doe whatsoever commandeth: And as it is in the concernments of the soule in the relations of the body, we are not onely to beloeve, a trust, that is, look for a fortune or event, without the use of meanes to attain it; but we must beleeve, and provide th [...] henest in the sight of all men; use the means, and trust and pend on God for a blessing, as Paul said, Acts 27.30.31. [...] cept these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved: So it is in [...] those above specified considerations; Except ye repent, ye all likewise perish: If any would not worke, neither should [...]eate: He hath promised Heaven, yet it is, If thou repent: hath promised to feed thee, yet it is, If thou bestirre thy self thy Calling, labour with thy hands; in vain thou expe [...] either, if thou sleight the conditions. Further yet, when Church of God is distressed and persecuted: God hath promi [...] deliverance, but it is upon these termes, That the members the of seek to God by Prayer, and reformation of lise, and endeav [...] by all lawfull and warrantable meanes to promote and adva [...] her interest, put to thy helping hand, and then, semper libs p [...] doat hamus; But if thou sit still, value thine own ease more t [...] the Churches prosperity and peace, and be content to referre businesse to God, if he will save it, let him doe it; know th [...] that Mordecays reply to Ester, when she scrupled to interc [...] for the People the Jews, to the King, in their extremity. is m [...] properly applycable to thee, Ester 4.14. If thou altogether hold thy peace, &c. Certainly no greater argument of a sp [...] espoused to the World, bespotted with sensuality, devoide of feare of God, then, when Religion is at stake, the dayly Sa [...] fice invaded, and all Piety at a losse, to project, and plot for [...] World, and make provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts of A very Heathen will tell us, Non nobis solum nati sumus; [...] those generous spirits among them, who have expended th [...] lives and fortunes, with much prodigality for their native Co [...] ­trey, will, in the day of Iudgement, condemne the base cove­tousnesse, [Page 55]and wasting luxuries of such carnall Professors, whose [...]res and lusts are alike insatiable, heape and hord up, without [...]e or conscience, and spend without feare or wit, and never [...]nk of the afflictions of Joseph, to relieve the distressed, to re­ [...]h the bowels of the hungry, nor contribute any thing, but by [...]sse, to the worship or service of God. But yet, alas, how lit­ [...] are all humane contributions, either to preserve the body to [...]e the soule, or to secure, or settle the Church? How defici­ [...] and imperfect is all our labors and industry to these pur­ [...]es? Noah was at vast Charges, took great pains to build an [...]ke, but what was all this to his preservation? What had he defend it against the stormes of winds, and violence of the [...]ather, which hurried down the highest and most senced Cities [...] Turrets? How could the Arke endure those assaults and tem­ [...]ts, which the great places of strength could not resist? Or [...]w could Noah conduct, and guide it over the tops of Hills, and [...]idst the Mountains? But true obedience disputes not Gods [...]mmands, and if he enjoynes things improper, and impertinent humane reason; as Goe and wash in Jordan, &c. Or, Let seven [...]iests beare seven trumpets of Rams-hornes, &c. yet obey we [...]ust, our Faith requires our observance, and performance. And us it holds in the institution of the holy Sacraments, which [...]ve no foundation in reason; yet because they are the Acts of [...]ods wisedome, and he commands their use; we are not to Iudge canvas them, but to observe and reverence them. And as these [...]rrow their successe from their Institution, so all our labors [...]d endeavours, their blessing, from his gracious providence: [...]xcept the Lord keep the City, &c. Psal. 127.1.2.3. nothing [...] project or enterprise, but becomes either prejudiciall, or un­ [...]ofitable, unlesse God give the blessing: which we finde expe­rimentally true in some kinde, famine, when plenty enough of [...]orne for the quantity, but extream want, in respect of the [...]ourishment, when God in his Just Judgement (as the Pro­ [...]net spea [...]eth) breaketh the Staffe of Bread, gives it not a nou­rishing faculty. but it rather occasions faintnesse, and decay of [...]irits. But that which makes this Observation more home and [...]vident, is yet further to observe, That this Vessell which he [...]repared, was not a Ship, made to all advantages of Sayling; [Page 56]but an Arke, close above, without Sayles, Oares, or any or Engines which man hath invented and employed for the co [...] modious passing of Vessells upon the Seas; It had no Helme [...] steere her with, no Master or Governor to command handing of Helme or Sayles; God reserved to himselfe glory of Noahs Preservation, he himselfe was the onely Pi [...] to guide it upon the Waters, and afterwards to Harbour it; Providence, the Sailts and Oares, to steere and move it. [...] is many times pleased clearly to demonstrate his Wisedo [...] Power, and goodnesse, by using the weaknesses of our inter [...] ­tions, and employing such mean instruments, as have nothing power or wisedome in themselves. Give me leave thus to ap [...] it; If we see the Arke of Christs Church floating like the Is [...] Lemnos, having no place of settlement; If we see her mo [...] upon troubled waters, tossed to and fro with the waves of c [...] ­tention; If we see her without a Governor, having nothing humane; policy or power to direct or protect her; if with Sailes, having no favour nor respect from the world; with Oares, any humane assistances or aydes; God will supply to the want of all these, if she turn to God sincerely, beg his m [...] ­cy, and with a penitent heart, purified by Faith, crave his P [...] ­tection: All these deficiencies of secondary causes, and want [...] humane assistances, will prove demonstrations of Gods por [...] and wisedome, when he shall be pleased to deliver her by hand, without any wayes or meanes discernable, or possible be imagined by humane ingenuity: In ordinary wayes of [...] liverance, there is a concurrent abundance and confluence experimented means, the concurrence and ayde of second cau [...] the full force and strength of the arme of flesh; but in spec [...] and extraordinary deliverances, when God will shew himself more signally and clearely, he effects his designes by weak improper. insufficient, and defective means

8. Noahs Arke condemned the World, because the world wo [...] not reforme, notwithstanding Gods warnings, premonitions, a [...] exhortations. O then while the Arke is in building, wh [...] grace is offered, whilest we are summoned to come to hi [...] while this opportunity of repentance lasteth, turne you fro [...] your evill wayes, nothing can hinder, or retard your conversion [Page 57]but either your own insensible duinesse and inadvertency (which yet is a crime of your wills) or your malitious perversenesse: If the Arke be finished, God deprives you of the opportunities of mercy, the advantages of grace; the deluge of Gods wrath is ready to fall down upon you, there remains nothing but a fearefull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation, which shall devoure the adversaties; wanton not, play not with his word; seek the Lord while he may be found, for a time there is when he will not be found, because we cannot finde a way, or place of repentance, though with Esan we seek it carefully with tears; and be assured, that if the Ministery of his Word (which answereth to the preparing of the Arke) bath not converted thee, it will condemn; if it quicken not it will kill; if this two-edged sword with one edge, hath not cut off the evills of your hearts; with the other it will peirce us through with eternall paines, and never dying deaths: If it be not the sa­vour of life unto life, it will be of death unto death.

9. The World; though many regard not Gods warning its not multitude or numbers will save us in the day of wrath. O then follow not a multitude to doe evill, lest thou perish with them for company; chuse the society of the few, the little Frock, and strive to get into the Arke with them; it is bet­ter to be saved alone, then perish with the World. And here againe let me resume my former exhortation; Whilest thou hast the light, walk in the light; take heed thou be not mis­led and deceived with the fashions and interests of the World, or the examples of worldly men, (who pretend to be and trans­forme themselves into Angels of light) lest thou perish with the World: Follow the orders and discipline, of Jesus Christ, his holy example, in him is no darknesse; he is that light which enlightneth every man in the World; if we shut our eyes against this light, if we hate it, or hate to follow it, we are already condemned; It is Saint Johns sentence, John 3.19.20. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the World and men loved darknesse rather then light, &c. But

10. Here is one Observable more; The Deluge took not the World on a sudden: As they were fore-warned long be­fore, so God in his goodnesse so ordered, that it should raine [Page 58]also forty dayes and forty nights, that seeing they could n [...] escape with their temporall lives, they might in these interva [...] and interims, take occasion to provide for eternity. O th [...] infinite goodnesse of God, who allowed these perishing soul [...] time and leisure to implore mercy; these dying men had a fur­ther opportunity of repentance, and they might though dead [...] the flesh, yet live in the spirit. I have long dwelt upon Noa [...] Building, and have walked up and down, too and fro his Ar [...] yet not come to an end. What he prepared, was for our e [...] ­fication, to build us up in our most holy Faith, It was a gre [...] preparation, contained much in it upon the waters, and y [...] affords plentifull matter both for Doctrine and Instruction I shall therefore descend into a more particular applycation and touch a little of the mysticall, and this in three conside­rations. In respect of Noahs Person, his Arke, and the Deluge

• 1. In respect of Noah: All the great Personages of the o [...] Testament, related to Christ; and all their services, were repre­sentations of his acts or sufferings. Adam the first, a Type [...] Christ, the second Adam, from whom we derive our second bir [...] and regeneration. Abel, flain by his Brother for his innocence a Figure of Christs innocence, and his death, whereunto he w [...] delivered by the Iewes, his brethren after the Flesh. Enoc [...] Translation, an example of Christs Ascention into Heaven. A [...] what was Typified by Noah and his Arke, we have expressed 1 Pet. 3.20.21. The like Figure, &c. the word [...], sigu [...] ­fies more, and more properly, an opposite, contrary figure, copy like, or contrary to the Patterne, and was certainly use by the Apostle, to denote the Analogy of eternall life, where [...] Baptisme is a Sacrament, with temporall preservation from th [...] Deluge; and the resemblance betwixt Christ the Institutor this Sacrament, and Noah the Architector of the Arke: and holds in severall likenesses. For
  • 1. Noah was the cheife of the second World, that wor [...] which succeeded the Deluge; Christ the Head of a new Wor [...] too, and of the World also founded upon the ruines of a former for as the first world in Noahs time perished, so necessarily, what soever issued from Adam, was to be annihilated, that all might b [...] repayred by Christ.
  • [Page 59]2. Noah signifies litterally, rest, or repose; Christ is our Noah, our Saviour, who hath endured for us the stormes of Gods fierce wrath, will harbour us, after we have passed the waves of this troublesome world, in security and peace; and will Pilot his Church through the stormes of Persecution, mauger the vio­lences and attempts of Devills and men, into the place of his [...]est, his heavenly Kingdom, Psael. 93.4.5.
  • 3. Noah exhorted sinners to repentance, and was there­fore stiled, A Preacher of Righteousnesse: In which respect he is a proper Type of Christ, whose errand and businesse it was to all sinners to Repentance, and who yet by his Writings and Ministers dischargeth that Office.
  • 4. Noah saved his Family, his neer Relatives; so Christ de­livers his People from his Fathers wrath, his spirituall kindred, his flesh and his bone, Eph. 5.20.
  • 5. Noah prepared an Ark; Christ builds up a Church to himselfe, Mat. 16.18.
  • 6. Noah after builded an Altar, offered a burnt Offering, and so removed a curse, and procured a blessing, Gen. 8.20.21.22. Christ offered himselfe a Sacrifice for us to deliver us from his Fathers wrath, the curse of the Law, and to reconcile us into his favour, and make us partakers of the Promises and blessings of the Gospel; the Parallell we find in full termes set down to our hands, Eph. 5.2. The purchases of Christs Sacrifice, are spirituall renovation, and eternall happinesses, with an annexed Promise, That he will never punish us in his sore displeasure; he will never suffer his whole wrath to arise; the highest expressions thereof shall prove but fatherly corrections, friend­ly admonitions; not punishments properly, not fruits of his revenging justice, because declared in mercy, for our reforma­tion, not destruction.
• 2. In respect of the Ark, which was a Type of the Church, the assembly of the first born, Heb. 12.23. for as all compre­hended in the Arke, were saved, so shall all within the inclo­sure of the Church; they are the body of Christ, and he is the Saviour of his body, Eph. 5.23. And so that rule, Extra Ec­elesiam non est salus, holds good. And that of Cyprian, He hath not God for his Father, who hath not the Church for his Mo­ther. [Page 60]So he in other places, Serm. de Sp. Sancto, & in Ep. [...] Novat. haeret. and the allegory, or argument, drawn from the proportion, runs thus; Noahs Ark was one, and all out of [...] perished for their contempt; so the Church is one, and all o [...] of the Church shall perish for their disobedience; this is th [...] Church, against which the gates of Hell shall not prevaile, n [...] ther the depth of waters, nor the height of the rocks, co [...] damnifie this Arke; not the powers of darknesse, nor spiritu [...] wickednesses in high places, shall hurt the Church, the one ho [...] Catholicke Church, the aggregate of Beleevers; not extern [...] professors, not a particular Church of any one denomination made up of Pastors and their Flockes: for in it are many hy­pocrites, and wicked persons; which brings in Augustines o [...] servation, lib. 12. contra Faust. Man. cap. 15. In the Arke the was uncleane, as well as cleane, living things, Sic in Eccles [...] Sacraementis, & boni, & mali versantur, good and bad a [...] mixed in the Church here, where, he that will take pains, ma [...] finde many more allusions applyed by that Father. But here is observable, That the Cement of the Ark, in the Hebrew wor [...] comes from another word which signifies, propitiation, reconcile­men, or pardon; and from it the Propitiatory, which covered the Arke, borrowed his name; it is from Christs satisfaction and propitiation, that we are not consumed, that our peace is made and we accepted; it is by the wood of the Crosse, that we an [...] delivered; and the word in Hebrew used for the Arke, is deri­ved from a word which signifies to returne, to be converted; the Chuch is a society, or body of sinners converted to God Christ died for us, that we should turne to God, Acts 3.26 Titus 2.14.
• 3. In respect of the Deluge, 1 Peter 3.20. which hold thus; The same waters which drowned and destroyed the world bore up and supported the Arke; even as the Red Sea which sucked in, and enclosed the Aegyptians, was a Rode, and D [...] fence for the Israelites. So Baptisme, the Water of Regenera­tion, on the one part crucifies sinne, the flesh and its lusts; o [...] the other sides gives a new life and being; the holy partake thereof become new creatures. And hence it is that Saint Pet [...] immediately addes, after the washing of our Consciences by Bap­tisme, [Page 61]the mention of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the [...]ad, to perfect the paralell; For as the Deluge descending upon [...]e Arke, was a Figure of Death; and its escape in safety, a [...]gure of life and resurrection. So in Baptisme, the plonging to the Water, is a signe of Death; the rising out again, of [...]fe and Resurrection: to denote to us, That all we which are [...]ptized should die unto sinne, and rise into newnesse of life, [...]m. 6.3.4.5.

And as after the Deluge, the Dove brought an Olive Branch; [...] the holy Spirit, which appeared at the Baptisme of Christ in [...]e shape of a Dove, is sent into our hearts, to assure us that [...]e wrath of God the Father is over-past, and we are his be­loved Children, Rom. 8.16.

Again, the Deluge the more it increased and over-topped [...]e Palaces of the Earth, the higher it elevated the Arke, and [...]vanced it neerer Heaven; so the same afflictions which ruines and confounds the men of this World, raiseth the Beleevers [...]om Earth to Heaven, extols and exalts them to God and eter­nity.

Lastly, as the Arke, after the Deluge, was found on the moun­taines of Ararat; so after the waves and tossings of this passing world shall cease, and be passed over; the Church shall be found [...] the Mountaine of Sion. that which is Heavenly, and above, [...] glorifie God for ever. And, as Noah, after his deliverance, [...] offer to him the Sacrifices of Prayses and Thansgivings to all [...]ternity.

2. The Morall affords these Instructions following.

1. The reiterated and renewed griefes and afflictions which many times the best of men doe suffer, are as the great Deluge, [...]he deep waters, that they prevaile not against to drown or sinke them in security and despaire; they in these exigents must have timely recourse to God by Prayer and Supplication with [...] penitent heart, which is the best course to stay them, and have the People that are in adversity, Psal. 32.6.7. But then

2. It is Gods mercy that they are not consumed, a speciall worke of his providence and power, that the deep waters of the [...]roud goe not over their soules; it requires the same strength [...] settle a madded enraged tumult, as to still the waves of a [Page 62]troubled Sea, Psal. 65.7. which forced the Prophet so pa­nately to Pray, Psal. 144.7. and Save me O God, Psal. 65.14.15.16. verses. And Psal. 77.15.16.17. David attrib the Israelites deliverance from the Red Sea, to Gods immed power: And therefore Psal. 22. He speaking of stormes tempests, thunders and floods, concludeth, The Lord sitteth the Flood, verse 10. That Providence and supreme Power wi­sent the waters of the Deluge, and preserved Noah in them the same which disposeth of all things in Nature, or the [...] verse.

3. To beware of forgetfulnesse of God, of Pride of He security of Spirit; and for this purpose, peruse and apply your selves (as is very obvious, if you will) upon many o [...] sions, and in severall circumstances that passage of the God Mat. 24.36 us (que) ad 40. Know and beleeve, that as there an Universall Deluge, so there will be a more Universall Co [...] ­gration. Once all but eight Persons were drowned in the Wa­ters; and again all shall (nothing accepted) be dissolved w [...] Fire, at the great and terrible day of the Lord, 2 Peter 3.7.12. But this is not all, there is another Fire to devoure condemned world, for the perdition of the ungodly, prep [...] for the Devill and his Angels, which shall never be extinguish O feare these Fires, that thou mayst fly from them. Noah warned of God concerning the Deluge; thou art warned God also, of his comming again to judge the world by Fire, Noah did, beleeve and feare; feare, and obey Gods Voyce; day, even whilest it is called to day, lest any of you be harder though the deceitfulnesse of sin; [...]; T [...] is our Faith, that we look to that day; this our Feare, that haste to it; our Obedience, that we will endeavour to appro our selves Gods faithfull servants, by our holy conversation, and against that day; for if we Beleeve, we cannot but Fear and if we Feare, we cannot but look for, and hasten to this day and as Noah feared, and thereupon prepared an Arke, &c. so we doe feare, we will be diligent, to be found of him in Pea [...] 2 Peter 3.14. Fly to Christs holy Church for sanctuary, and the being admitted, and received into this foundation, let us bui [...] our selves up in our most holy Faith, strive with all care and di­ligence, [Page 63]that we be not led away with the error of the wicked. [...]t we fall not from our own fledfastnesse, that we grow in [...]ace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, [...]fecting holinesse in the feare of the Lord, that we may be a [...]ilding fitly framed together, growne into an holy temple of [...] Lord, an habitation of God, through the Spirit, Eph. 2.21.22. [...]t our Faith be founded on the word of God, and the rock of first Jesus, and then our Faith shall not faile; then we neither [...]ed to feare the descent of the rain, the irruptions of the [...]ods, nor the tempests of winds; our Building, our Arke will we us: But if we prepare and provide for the world, spend [...]r time, and labour for it; we, and our works, and all the [...]orks of the world, and the world it selfe, shall parish. O then [...]ild for eternity, labour for Heaven, the building of God, an [...]use not made with hands, 2 Cor. 5.1. God will prepare for a City, Heb. 11.16. if we thus prepare our selves, by holy [...]edience, to meet him at his comming. If we look for the [...]orid, haste to be rich, make our businesse, and study to gather, [...] adde to an estate, to fill our Coffers, to raise up houses, and all them by our names; this in a sober mans experience and [...]dgement, is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit. Vanity in the signe and project; Vexation of Spirit in the prosecution and [...]anaging of it; Vanity, for they labour for that which profiteth at; Vexation of Spirit, for they fall into temptations and snares, [...]d many foolish and hurtfull lusts; brings upon them a Deluge [...] cares, and miseries; drownes men first in troubles and di­ [...]ractions, and after, in destruction and perdition, 2 Tim. 6.9. [...]anity, in that the plotters and contrivers are wavering and un­able in all their wayes; apt they are to be off and on, they [...]e easily seduced from their Faith and Honesty; and Vexation [...] Spirit, in that they peirce them through with many sorrows; [...]anity, in that they promise themselves a name, and perpetuity, [...]ut they are deluded; their names shall rot, and they shall not [...]joy them, Deut. 28.30. Vexation of Spirit, in that they eat he bread of sorrow, to acquire an estate; are perplexed how to [...]eep it, how to dispose of it, and what will become of it. Va­nity, for they are vain in their imaginations, and their foolish [...]earts are darkned, their inward thoughts are folly, Ps. 49 11.12.13. [Page 64]Vexation of Spirit, to think they must leave it, like sheep must be layd in the Grave, verse 14. &c. they cannot help t [...] selves, or others with it; they cannot ransome their soules, ca [...] recover the health of their bodies, nor purcha e a cure for Goute. But then they are much more vaine, shall be [...] more tormented in Spirit, who build Sion in Blood and Jer [...] ­lem in iniquity. Micah 3 0. they that by deceit and inju [...] extortion and oppression, sacriledge and perjury, think to themselves, though upon the ruines of others; they cert [...] prepare not for the preservation of their houses, but for houses fall, and their own confusion; these properly are said sicare ad genennam: a flying roll, a swift destruction pu [...] them both. Zach. 5 2.3.4. Even a man and his posterity 33.1. Isay 5.8.9. the more riches they creasure up for t [...] selves and theirs, the more they treasure up wrath; but if w [...] provide well for our selves and our generations, raise up a [...] and memory which shall not be taken away, purchase an I [...] rita [...]ce that fadeth not; be rich in Faith, and abound in [...] works; beleeve in God, and seare him, and you shall not want in this world (which is the great pretence of world [...] why they are so active and stirring in the world, so tenaciou [...] illiberall that they gripe and catch at all; give, or lend not [...] to those that truely want; [...]estow nothing, or if any thing small forced token on Gods service, Ministers or Members) t [...] wilt, as Noah did, provide for another world; spare neither nor pains for the re-edi [...]ying of the Arke of Christs Chur [...] thou wilt by justice, mercifulnesse, and almes make friend the unrighteous Mammon, &c. Luke 16.9. Lay up in sto [...] good foundation against the time to come, &c. 1 Tim. 6. thou by thy religious practises shall condemne the world, and shall not be condemned with it. O then shake off careless and security, Zeph. 2.15. give over your covering and cour [...] of the world, your cager desires and restlesse pursuites o [...] with much anxiety and suspension of minde; enquire and after the wayes of life and salvation, with humility and since [...] and pursue and follow them with care and conscience; then the rightly beleevest, truely fearest God, and wisely provides for saving of thy selfe, and others; thou mayest be confident [Page 65]assured of Gods protection, favour, and everlasting mercy: God will Pilot thee through all the stormes and tempests of this World, by all the spouts and cataracts of tribulation and perse­ation, and conduct thee to the Harbour of life and salvation. [...]oubtiesse the end of all Gods judgements threatned or in­ [...]icted, are to deterre us from sinne, to keep us from sinne and [...]nisery, and to hold us in obedience, to make us more conside­ring, and better; times of distraction, and destruction, are con­ [...]dering times, Isay 57.1. and certainly, if ever, we may justly [...]omplain with David, Psal. 74.3. Us (que) ad 11. nothing but de­ [...]lation and raine in every quarter; the Church is desolate and in confusion, Jerusalem an heap of stones, the sword rageth and is drunk with blood: and that which heightens these judge­ments, The Lord hath set every mans sword against his fellow, [...]ven thoughout all the Land; as he did thoughout all the Midia­ [...]tish Host And yet (which is yet also a greater judgement) no man considers it, or layes it to heart; never more covetousnesse, [...]uxury, profanation, wickednesse, and all Heathenish impieties; there is a generall consumption of Religion, and Humanity, of Piety and Honesty; and it is much to be feared that as Aetas pa­ [...]entum pejor annit, tulit nos nequiores, mox daturos progentem [...]itiotiorem; the World shall be drowned in Barbarisme, A theisme and Infidelity; so God in his justice will east us away from [...]is presence, deprive us of the light of his countenance, his Truth and Gospel; take away our pound, remove our Candle­sticke, let out his Vineyard to other Husbandmen, and make us [...] [...]ssing, a reproach, and a Proverbe among the Nations; give the Philistines possession of our Arke; and we shall wander too and from, from Sea to Sea, and from the North, even to the East shall we runne to seek the Word of the Lord and shall not finde it, Amos 8.12. Perhaps we may have fulnesse and plenty, to [...]at and drink, (and the want of this is onely feared, and the getting of it, onely sought) marry, and give in marriage; live pleasantly, and (according to the now usuall expression) comfor­tably, after our own hearts desire; when as immediately, we not considering, are overtaken with wrath and vengeance, and have no Arke to save us; not a Noah, a Preacher of Righteous­nesse, to instruct us; there is no more Vision, no Prophets more [Page 66]in the Land; the dayly Sacrifice is taken away, and the abomi­nation of desolation set up. When I reade the sinnes an judgements of Jerusalem, Ez. 22. per totum, and reflect upon these present times and conditions thereof; I see so much their sinnes in use and practise, that I cannot but fore-see th [...] the plagues and punishments thereof will follow us, unlesse we returne, repent, and reforme. And O that yet we would repent that the Lord might have compassion on us, heale our Land, st [...] the tumults of the People; take away all Schisme, profanation and heresie, which pesters the Church; all confusion and disor­ders which obscures it, and we reduced into a setled Christian Peace, attended with justice and mercy, that all our hearts a [...] affections may be united in the bands of Religion; that o [...] Arke may be brought back againe, that glory may dwell in o [...] Land: and when we shall be removed hence, we may be recei­ved into the Land of glory.

One great expression of our Faith in God, and feare of him is Invocation of his holy Name; an excellent preparative an [...] sure means to preserve us in the unity of the Arke of Christ Church, and save it from the condemnation of the World; [...] to Petition the Rocke of our Salvation, the Author and Finished of our Faith, the Founder and Benefactor of his Church: And therefore for a Conclusion of this worke, Let us Pray.

The third Part. The Prayer.

O Most great and glorious Lord God, who art wonderfull i [...] justice, terrible in judgement, irresistable in power; be thou our feare and dread, in the perillous time; our shield and de­sence, a very present help in the needfull time of trouble: Be thou our hope and confidence in the dayes of wickednesse, and when the wickednesse of our heeles composse us about: thou who hast prepared mercy and truth for these that seck thee, prepare us for thy mercy and truth. Let all the Earth flare the Lords stand in awe of him all ye that dwell in the World, for his sal­vation is nigh them that feare him. O fix thy feare in our hearts, that we never turn again to folly: Let us see thy mar­ [...]llous loving kindnesse, and partake of thy plentifull goodnesse, [Page 67]which thou hast laid up for them that feare thee, even before be Sounes of Men. O let not us dally with thy warnings; let [...]s not be setled on our lees, living in security and sensuality: [...]t not the sentence of guil [...]inesse preceed against us; let all thy evelations of wrath upon every soule that d th evill; all the de­ [...]arations of thy righteous judgement upon all sinners and against [...]ll sinne, worke in us repentance to salvation, not to be repented [...]f: Let it worke an holy indignation, displeasure, and revenge [...]on our selves, that we have displeased thee; carefulnesse and [...]are, that we displease thee not againe: a zeale, and vehemeus [...]esire, to doe those things that please thee, that we may be sin­ [...]re, and without offence, till the day of Christ: Let not us have [...]ur portion in this condemned World; but that it may be, with [...]e heires of righteousnesse which is by Faith: Let thy Word [...]ake deep impressions on our spirits, take place in our affections. And because we are fore-warned, to fly from the wrath to come; [...]ssist us by thy grace, that we may bring forth fruits meet for [...]pentance. Give to us great and dreadfull apprehensions of thy [...]lory and immensity, thy majesty and thy power; that we may [...]dore thee, and feare thee as our God: and whensoever we make [...]ur addresses to thee, let us fall low on our knees before thy foot­ [...]oole with such humbled spirits, and devout postures, as may best expresse our conceits of thy greatnesse; our reverence to thy pre­sence, and our own unworthynesse to appeare before thee. Move [...]s to serve thee in feare, and plant the reverence of thy Name and Laws in our hearts, that we may walke in all thy wayes with much diligence, great observation, and gedly jealousie, over all our actions. Let the dread and reverence of thee, thy justice, and thy power; thy thrcats and iudgements deelared from Hea­ven, and many times on Earth, executed upon disobedient con­demners of thy words, make us to tremble at the recognition of our sinnes, and in consideration of our guilt, and demerits: and then, O Lord, let the contemplation and meditation [...]f thy sure mercies, and gratious promises, keep us in a uniforme constant course of obedience: let us thus passe from Faith to Feare, from Feare to Love, from the apprehensions of of thy wrath, to the sense and comforts of thy mercies. Let thy [...]eare take such full possession of our Spirits, that we Feare nothing [Page 68]but thee; we feare not poverty, shame, the power and malice men, nor any outward disadvantages and discomforts; that [...] shall not feare, though the Earth be moved, and the Hills be car­ried into the midst of the Sea; though the waters thereof ra [...] and swell, and the mountains shake at the tempest of the same for his salvation is nigh them that feare. he hath an Arke, b [...] holy Church, to preser [...]e and keep them alive. O holy Jes [...] preserve and keep this Church, which thou hast founded on t [...] selfe: save and deliver this Arke of thy strength from the str [...] vings of the people, and the insurrections of evill doers: defen [...] her in peace, adorne her with holinesse, build her up in unity maintain her in safety in all stormes-and against all temptation and enemies, that she be not pestered with Heresie, Schisme [...] Scandall. O deliver her from private interpretations, innovati­ons of holy things, doting about questions, and making endless strifes, strange Doctrines, and the Doctrine of the unlearne [...] and unstable. O thinke upon the Congregation which thou ha [...] purchased and redeemed of old; unite all her members in the bands of Faith, Hope, and Charity; and when thou thinkest first of externall communion. Let the dayly Sacrifice of Prayer and Sacramentall Thanksgiving, never cease: let the Order of thy Ministers which serve at thy Altar stand in Power; and sen [...] thou forth Labourers into thy Harvest such as have Calling, a [...] Aaron and Noah: make them farthfully to declare thy Will to the People; rightly to dispense thy Sacraments, and acceptably to entercede with thee for thy People: Preserve thou those whom thou hast placed in the Highest Order of thy Church, that they lay Hands suddenly on no Man, but on such whose Lips may preserve knowledge, and whose Lives adorne the Gospel of Jesus and grave, blessed Lord, that though the Floods of Persecution and worldly interest, have lift their Waves to overwhelme thy Arke, yet doe thou Coast her in security over these Seas, and Pilot her in safety into the place of thy rest. O preserve thou [...] in the union and communion of this Church; let us have Noahs, Preachers of Righteousresse, orderly called, and fitly qualified for the Function; let us still injoy the freedom of thy Gospel, the Food of thy Word, the sweetnesse and refreshings of thy Sacra­ments, holy discipline, publique Communion in thy Church, and [Page 69]the benefits of the society of the Saints. O let not our sins cause [...] to remove the Candlepick from us, to give away thy Arke, to [...]at thy Vineyard to other H [...]shandmen, lest we be condemned, and [...]sh with the unbeleeving World, but doe thou preserve us in times [...]blike-calamities, that we may passe over the Waves of this trou­ [...]some World, and be harboured in rest. O support us with thy [...]d, that when the foundations of the Earth be out of course, [...]n the Nations of the Earth are divided and moved, so that the [...]rts of men shake at the tempests thereof, our hearts may be setled thee and thy sure mercies, and never-failing compassions: thy Spirit move upon these Waters, that the Streames goe not [...]r our soules the overflowing of ungodlinesse make us not afraid, [...] the great Waters of persecution, or any other affliction, drowne not. O thou whom even the Windes and the Sea obey, now when Ship of thy Church is tossed with tempests, covered with Waves; [...]se, and rebuke these Winds and these Seas, and let there be a at calme, a blessed and universall Peace throughout the Christian [...]rld, that we may delight and rejoyce in the promised blessings of Gospel, our Swords may be converted into Plowshares, and our [...]ares into Pruninghooks. And that we may be prepared for these [...]rcies, frame our hearts to an holy obedience to thy whole will, make Heares of righteousnesse which is by Faith, and as be [...]ommeth use who look for that inheritance. Teach us by thy grace to de­nse the World, and worldly things, to lay up our treasure in Heaven, [...]charity and actions of Religion, that when thou shalt call on us deposit these honses of clay, our earthly tabernacles which we now try about us, we being Heires of Righteousnesse, may dye in the a [...]tu­ [...] Communion of thy one holy Catholique Church; and after death, [...]ter into our Masters joy, and at the Resurrection of the just, be [...]ly possessed of that Kingdome, which thou hast prepared for all at love and feere thee, and wait for thy comming. Grant this, [...] Heavenly Father, for thy mercies sake, and for his sake, whom [...]ou hast appointed Heire of all things, Jesus Christ the Righte­ous, who hath given unto us his Spirit, the earnest of our Inhe­ [...]ance, who make h intercession for us, and by whom we cry [...] Father. To this Blessed, Holy, and undivided Trinity, be Prayse, Glory, Worship, and Thanksgiving, now and ever, Amen.

ABRAHAMS Exile.

ABraham succeeds Noah in the Catalogue of Beleeve but in the instances and expresses of his Faith, he was fore him, and all his Progenitors upwards to Adam, a [...] all that succeeded him, till our Lords Incarnation. him it is remarkable, That through those many darkenesses, a [...] at such a distance, he saw his Lords Day, and he rejoyced. him, for the transcendency of his Faith, did that Title of Hon [...] belong, The Father of the Faithfull; he only of all of the first tim [...] merited that stile, and to him it is attributed indefinitely Father he was to all his believing fore-fathers and all his a [...] their following Posterity; and consequently upon the same [...] count, to him the highest blessing, which mortality was capa [...] of, was assigned, and assured; and that by a thrice repea [...] grant and confirmation; In thee shall all the Nations of [...] Earth be blessed which consignment, though literally made [...] and verified in the Person of Christ, yet was symbolically a [...] typically demised to Abraham; this blessing was to be derive [...] from him, who was derived from Abraham; and therefore Chr [...] is said (which is yet an higher Honour, an exaltation of Abra­ham above Men and Angels) to take the Seed of Abraham, He [...] 2.16. And this blessing promised, is expressed to be Abraham bosome, which yet is no lesse then the beatificall Vision, everl [...] ­sting rest and security, the sitting down with Abraham, &c. in the Kingdom of Heaven.

But then, as Abraham was the Father of many Nations; so [...] Faith the Parent of a numerous Issue of Religious Acts and [...]ties: out of his loynes great Nations had their being and [...]ginning; and his Faith gave sanctitie and holinesse, to many [...]obled gloriovs vertues; his Faith hallowed and consecrated [...] his naturall and morrall excellencies and perfections; and en­ [...]uled them, holy and religious. Let Phylosophers talke of the [...]catenation and connexion of the Cardinall Vertues, in gradu [...]perantiae: most certain it is, that in all true Beleevers, all [...]rtues, both Morall, and Theologicall, are closely concentred; [...]d most signally and evidently they were so in Abraham. The [...]ralists tells us. That Prudence is the copula of their Vertues; [...] Divines, That Faith gives being, growth, and persection to holy duties, and then it ceaseth; as these say, where prudence there are all Vertues, nullum numen abest, &c. and no act [...] he denominated good, without Prudence, this mi [...]at velut [...]er igues, Inna minores; so in Religion: where Faith is, there in aslotiation and conjunction of all holy graces; if we doe [...]eeve, we cannot but serve God; we cannot but live soberly, [...]ly, and godly; and no act can challenge the appellative of [...]igion, which proceeds not from Faith: The proofe of the [...]mer, is Titus 2.11.12.13. and of the latter, Titus 1.15. [...]hout it, they cannot thinke a holy thought; for, animalis [...]; the naturall (and the unbeleeving man is he) receiveth, [...]. 1 Cor. 2.15. and where Faith is, (as the Sunne, attended [...]h a numberlesse number of Starres, which she gives light and [...]er too; though with this difference, That when she shines [...]st, they appeare least; and her setting, is their rising) so is alwayes attended and waited on with a glorious traine of [...]eparable servants, holy graces, which also are her proper issue [...] off-spring, as well as retinue: all which, besides the former loses are evidently conspicuous in this illust [...]ious example, [...] noble precedent. Abraham beleeved, and therefore he knew [...] discerned the call, My Sheep (saith Christ) know my Voyce, follow me: so he harkned also to this Divine Call, and ob­ [...]ed it: For it follows he obeyed the call: But yet observe discretion of his faith he went not of his own head he ex­ [...] not himselfe, he waited till he was called; he was first called, [Page 72]and then he went: And yet his obedience is further not [...] was an absolute, and if ever (under correction be it spo [...] blinde obedience his Master said, goe and he goeth: but th [...] not all, he went he knew not whither; this was highly i [...] in verba Magistri, and yet so strongly was he perswaded of [...] goodnesse and truth that goe he would, and assured he wa [...] the place whether he went to would be in after inheritance, it was not enough to beleeve for a while, and in the time temptation to faint and flag: No, after he arrived by [...]p [...] providence in that [...]e [...]ra incognita, his Faith still taught hi [...] tendance on Gods leisure; even in the Land of Promise he mitted to the divine disposition, to be a sojourner; and th [...] the countrey were his own, in the divine designation which eye of his Faith also perceived; yet he would not enter in upon that account, he would live there as a stranger, till would give him Livery and Seizin; he would not take it a [...] own hand, but wait, till that Power which gave it him, [...] possesse him of it: and after all this, here follows an Act of [...] nation. Abraham was contented with the mean [...]esse of his [...] ­dition; and though a mighty warlike Prince, and the Father many Nations, submitted to dwell in Tabernacles with and Jacob, &c so that you have these remarkable honour acts of his holy Faith:

• 1. The Prudence of his Faith he went not before h [...] called; and therefore it is signally said, when he was called [...]enter dictam.
• 2. The obedience of his Faith, as soon as called, he w [...] he disputed not the order, he delayed not his observance; w [...] he was called to goe, he obeyed, and went: and by this racteristicke note, the Centurian proved his own author [...] and his souldiers and servants obedience. Mat. 8.9.
• 3. The dependance of his Faith; he went he knew not wh [...] and yet was assured God would bring him to his demised Ins­tance, and hereon depends and follows.
• 4. The confidence of his Faith, notwithstanding all those jections which flesh and blood could pretend against his F [...] to invalidate it, and make him stagger; yet he is resolve [...] goe, and was confident to finde an Inheritance: and the next
• [Page 73]5. The perseverance and patience of his Faith, He sojourned in the Land of Promise, &c. And from hence we finde,
• 6. The humility and modesty of his Faith; he was satis­ [...]ed with his allowance, and submitted to his fortune; He [...]welled in Tabernacles, &c. And last we have,
• 7. The wisedome and considerations of Faith; his Faith [...]elyed not on a broken Staffe, an Egyptian King; but was [...]unded on a Rocke: he obeyed, upon rationall motives and [...]onsiderations; on solid Arguments, and certain infallible in­ [...]erences, verse 10. For he looked for a City, &c.

And here, upon these circumstances, I might enlarge; but [...]hat I am engaged to observe my premised Method. Onely [...]y the way, take notice how pertinently, and powerfully the [...]postle Argues, from this proposed Method, to discourse his [...]ebrews into obedience and patience.

The Hebrews were all of them in a persecuted and afflicted condition, some one way, some another, for their Profession; many of them driven into the Wildernesse, forced to fly from, and desert their native Possessions, and habitations: But yet [...]heir condition was not harder then this of Abraham; their [...]evelations of Heaven and Eternity, were clearer, and there­fore their Faith ought not to be lesse then that of Abraham, [...]o varieties of accidents should discompose them, no distracti­ons or difficulties of times, should dispossesse them of their hope, or out them of their estate in reversion, their heavenly inheri­tance: they have but little Faith, and lesse patience, who think much to suffer a little while, a little inconsiderable worldly [...]osse, especially if they be Christians; before whose eyes, the [...]reat things which are layd up for them that are faithfull unto [...]he death, are most clearely presented: they pretend onely to [...]aith, that dare not trust God, unlesse they have all their desires in hand, and will not suffer the severest tyranny; much losse, [...]ome few blows, for all they can hope for: They are none of Abrahams Issue, they have nothing of his Faith, and so cannot [...]easonably expect any portion of his blessing; any blessing in his bosome. And thus I fall into my proposed way. And first for an Explication of the Words:

The first Part.

The Words are so plaine in the termes, that they need [...] Exposition; Onely a difficulty or two is to be explained. An [...] the First is, How Abraham received this Call: and to this shall but say little, because the Scriptures hath expressely sai [...] nothing concerning it: Onely in generall, it relates, That h [...] was Called, but determines not how; so Abraham had an ex­plicite Faith, of the generall grant of an Inheritance; but as implicite Beleife, onely of the particular place: so we may boldly resolve he was Called; but we know not how, or in wh [...] manner God signified his Call to Abraham; and therefore nei­ther can we without temerity, or presumption define, or con­clude positively what Method or Solemnity, God used in this Call. Most probable indeed it is, That God declared his Wi [...] to Abraham and the Pa [...]riarkes, Viva Voce. Neither will dispute whether this Call aimed onely at a temporall end, or ha [...] also a spirituall purpose; though to me it seems evident from Ioshua 24.2.3. that at once Abraham forsook his Fathers hou [...] and Idolatry; and he was called from the one and the other And so also from Gen. 11.31. we may conjecture, that Gen. delivered his Commandement to Abraham, he imparted to Ter [...] his Father, and Lo [...] his Cosin; and so they all resolved to qui [...] Chaldee, and to take part with Abraham, though they failed i [...] the designe; for Terah being Old, stayed by the way in Char­ran; after whose Death, Abraham took journey into Canaan Acts 7.2.3.4.

The second Quaere is, When Abraham had this Call; this is a circumstance of time, and I shall not be inquisitive, or te­dious in the discovery. Onely, breifly this account I shall give Abraham, after the Death of his Father Terah in Charran went into Canaan, and was then seventy and five yeares old, Gen. 12.4. which thus appears also from the con-text of the Histo­ry: Terah lived two hundred and five years, Gen. 11.32. and at that Age he died in Haran, ibid. Abraham immediately went thence into Canaan, Gen. 12.4. Acts 7.4. and was then seventy and five years old: and so also Abraham, Terahs youngest sonne was borne to him anno atat. 130. And thus much shall serve for this enquiry. The Doctrinall Part will be more large and now in order followes,

The second Part.

• 1. Had Abraham gone upon a sullen humour of discontent, or a doting fancy of change, or a pure pang of over-growne Zeale, the Enterprize had been folly, superstition, and impiety, and which is more, infidelity: had he gone without permission, or competent authority, it had been temerity and presumpti­on, if not worse, sedition. Had he gone upon the score of a new discovery, and pretence of a forraine Plantation, this had beene credulity and designe; or had he gone upon a re­port or narrative of the fertility of the Land of Canaan, this at the best, would be interpreted, but an innocent undertaking; it were farre from being an act of Divine Faith. But Abraham had no designe, but that which every one should have in his Re­ligion, and that is, to serve God, and restifie his obedience and duty to him: It was not a precipitate indiscreet Zeale which hurried him on to this change of soyle, but a sober and sound Knowledge; not upon a whisper of his own spirit, but upon a Call from Heaven: and indeed, unlesse we have War­rant and Commission from God, we have no Power to Exile our selves, to impoverish our Families, to sell our Estates: pretended necessities will not serve the turne, they must be reall, and not of our own making, for even these are species of selfe homicide, and felony de se. He is a Disciple of Christ, who takes up his Crosse; not he that either deserves it, (it is a sin, a misery and curse to suffer as a Murderer, as a Thiefe, &c. 1 Pet. 4.15. it is a Glory, and Crowne, to suffer as a Christi­an) nor he which pulls a crosse upon his head, courts a Mar­tyrdome, when without any prejudice to his Religion, he might avoyd it; that runs himselfe into a mischiefe, which he ought to decline: Cruces nec colimus, nec optamus, Min. Fa­lix. pag. 97. but if it be for well-doing, and if the Will of God be so; if those sufferings be of his appointment, if there­unto we be called, then committing our soules to God, as unto a faithfull Creator, is matter and ground of present comfort and rejoycing; and after, happinesse and glory: and then are we called, when we are tempted to a deniall of any part of our Christian Faith, to the omission of any holy duty, to beleeve, or practise any thing contrary to expresse Scripture, [Page 76]or dictates of a rightly enformed Conscience in any instan [...] whatsoever; For to professe, what we doe not beleeve, is da [...] ­nable hypocrisie; and to practise what is unlawfull, is horri­ble impiety: If then we be required to professe, or practi [...] contrary to our beleife and perswasion; in this case we are called to suffer, and not to professe or practise what we b [...] ­leeve not: much we may doe for the preservation of o [...] selves, dependants and interests; but nothing is tollerated [...] to doe, to the dishonour of our holy Religion, or the losse [...] a good Conscience. When God and Man, Religion and In­terest, Conscience and Worldly Relations are in competition then it holds, He that loveth Father or Mother, more, & Matth. 10.37.38. Then, whosoever will save his life, & Mat. 16.25. as for example, If I am enjoyned the Profession of the beleife of Purgatory (which opinion I am satisfied ha [...] no ground, either in Reason or Religion) that I should sub­scribe to, or avow its truth and Religion; in this case, thoug [...] perhaps the opinion be not a specie of it selfe haereticall, no [...] hath any annexed impietie to it; yet my subscription to, o [...] affirmation of its truth, would be unsafe, if not damnable [...] me; and by consequent, I am called rather to suffer, then t [...] hazard my Conscience, and Salvation, by my Profession of Lye; for so it is to me. Thus also if I be threatned with Plunder, Imprisonment, &c. for not joyning with interested Persons in an unlawfull Covenant, or for not subscribing t [...] any unjust Ingagement, contrary to Duty, Laws, or Religion in this case, because Conscience ascertains me the practise are wicked and sinfull, I am not to comply with, adhere un­to, or promote the Interest of a Party, but either to suffer, o [...] be silent, to live peaceably and innocently; and if that wi [...] not serve the turne then to suffer patiently and contendedly for hereunto I am called: I am neither to be awed into h [...] refie or impiety; I may neither assent to haereticall opinion destructive of an Article of Faith, nor consent to sinfull acti­ons, repugnant to the precepts of Faith: And if upon this ac­count I suffer, I am a Martye caeteris paribus in both, if no [...] equally: onely I must be sure that my refusall or deniall b [...] upon good grounds, strong convictions of Conscience from [Page 77]the writings of holy Scriptures, and not upon meer probabili­ [...]s or jealousies, or far-fetched conjectures and fancies; that is refusall, be not an humor or designe, a sullennesse or stiffnesse Spirit; but the motion of a sanctified heart upon Scripture [...]evelations.
• 2. This Call of Abraham we have Registred, Gen. 12.1. [...]d it put his Faith to the triall and proofe; for it runs in high [...]rmes, Get thee out of thy Courtrey &c. A strange and un­ [...]uth order and injunction, to relinpuish and desert his Inhe­ [...]ance and Patrimony, and to travaile and finde out a new [...]yle, and new acquaintance, and to stand to the courtesie of [...]angers. It were needlesse to discourse of the fancy and con­ [...]nt a man takes to his Native Countrey, (nescio qua natale [...]um, &c.) of the affection and piety he owes to his Parents, [...] the delight and satisfaction he findes in his Inheritance and [...]tient Family, especially if he be a man of Honour and Qua­ [...]y, for these concerments being the highest objects of naturall [...]sires; to leave these, seemeth all one, as to cast off Nature [...]d Humanity it selfe. But yet this is the condition of a [...]hristian, God many times puts them upon trials, calls them to [...]fferings, to sorsake all indearements, and adhere onely to [...]m; to love him for himselfe, and above, and before all others; [...]d to love others onely in and for him; and so Christ pro­ [...]ed not to his followers, the fullnesse of the Creature, abun­ [...]nce of wealth, dignities, and thrones, outward successes and [...]osperities, carnall delights and pleasures, confluence of all [...]rthly enjoyments; but harsh and unpleasant conditons, (such [...] would make the most affectionate servant forsake his Master, [...]e most faithfull Subject leave his Prince, and compound in me) Persecution and Tribulation, Poverty and Ignominy; no [...]ther Arguments of Invitation, to submit to his di cipline, did [...]e or his Apostles use, but such as were drawn from sufferings, and the rewards thereof; neither indeed could they properly have used any other; For Christ was the Prince of sufferings, a [...]an of sorrows; and the Apostles were banished, imprisoned, [...]rmented; not one of them but Saint John (and he escaped [...]eath by a Myracle, when he was put into a Cauldron of [...]alding Leade and Oyle) died a naturall death; and so not [Page 78]onely by Precept taught, but by example [...] they who will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer Persecu [...] Saint Paul found it so; no sooner was he Converted, Ananias was sent to Baptise him, with this Declaration will shew thee how great things thou must suffer, Acts 9. [...] and ever after, he was a Commission-Officer under Chri [...] His Motto was Quotidiè Morior, I dye dayly; and the C [...] was both his delight, and his study. No sooner was D [...] Anointed and Concecrated to the Kingly Office by the Prop [...] Samuel, but he was subjected to troubles and miseries; when are once admitted into the Communion of the chosen Gen [...] ­tion, the Royall Priesthood, the holy Nation; we ever a [...] are obnoxious to temptations, persecutions and afflictions; [...] the very Blessings which we injoy, are with Persecuti [...] Mark 10.30. Of the eight beatitudes mentioned Matth. five of them them have either meannesse, or misery for the subject; Blessed are the Poore, the Hungry and Thirsty, [...] that Mourne, the Humble, the Persecuted; and as it fared w [...] Christ, he was immediately assaulted by the tempter, upon solemne designation and separation to the Office of Medi [...] by Baptisme, Mat. 3.16.17. and Mat. 4.1. So it happens every follower of Christ; as soon as they list themselves [...] ­der his command, subscribe to his service, they are sure to m [...] with difficulties, sadnesses, and conflicts; the Devill, his Co [...] ­plices, and Agents pursue them with implacable fury, with [...] wearied malice, and rage; the sentence is peremptory, In [...] World you shall have tribulation, John 16.33. See but in w [...] harsh Language God declared his Will to Abraham, the Wo [...] and Expressions were able to torment the Bowels, disorder t [...] affections, disturbe the soule, and distract the spirit of a [...] one not altogether [...], who had any sparke of good nature in him; he faith not to him in a sweet or smooth stile, Ta [...] Journey out of Chaldee, and travell thence into Canaan; [...] in severe and high Phrase, Get thee out of thy Country, and fr [...] thy Kindred, and from thy Fathers House: God will not dis­semble with his servants, he tells them plainly the termes an condition of their servitude, what they must expect and loo [...] for; neither would he have them to flatter or delude them [Page 79]selves with vaine hopes of I know not what imaginary felici­ [...]es, not to build Castles in the Ayre, frame Ideas and plea­ [...]nt fancies of Empires, Crownes, Riches, and Honourable At­ [...]ndance; but wisely to consider with themselves afore-hand, [...]hether they like the termes, will observe the conditions, leave [...], if that be required, to follow him, left forsaking their pre­ [...]nded and acknowledged Master, he take vengeance on them [...]r their Apostacy, and they become a taunt and scorn to others, Luke 14.28.29.30. Look to it then, O Christian, what God [...]quires of thee, consider afore-hand, what God hath called [...]ee too; its temerity and folly to take in hand so great an interprise, unlesse thou intend to goe through with it; it is sin [...]d shame too, to forsake it, after thou hast undertaken it; He [...]at putteth his hand to the Plough, and looketh, &c. Luke 9.62. [...]e whom money or preferment can seduce, or feare bafle out [...] his undertaking, to side or betray his trust to the adverse par­ [...], is too base and vulgar a spirit to be imployed in any ho­nourable service: Let none pretend to Christ, who either do­ [...]gly loves, and fancies the World, or slavishly and cowardly [...]ares it, who drives at nothing but interest, and is affected with nothing but losse or death, or the pre-apprehensions of either; [...] whom faire promises can seduce, or threats or hard usage [...]gbeare and stave out of his Religion, let him never take the [...]me of Christian. Remember Lots Wife, who regretting [...]e losse of her Countrey, and some gawdy Vanities she had [...]ere, was turned into a Pillar of Salt. Know then, and consi­der, O Christian, that all those tryals and sufferings, are thy por­ [...]on in this life, that through many tribulations thou must en­ [...]r into the Kingdome of Heaven; If Called, thou must for­ [...]ke all, and follow thy Master; here, in bearing thy Crosse; [...]ereafter, in receiving a Crowne, Per varios casus, per tot dis­ [...]imina rerum, tendimus in Latinus. God will have it so, for [...]any reasons best known to himselfe; yet some we have re­ [...]ived from his fulnesse, which his Word as a suppletory, hath [...]nished us withall. As
  • 1. These sufferings and hardnesses tend much to his glo­ [...]y; for by this means God is worshipped, served, and obeyed [...] himselfe, and not upon a pretence, a designe or interest; [Page 80]this plainly demonstrates the ingenuity and sincerity of [...] Addresses and Attendance on God, when we lay aside all o [...] respects, and have no ends or stratagem in our service, but serve him, to glorifie him, and to be glorified with him; wh [...] no ingredient in our service, but love, and hope; when wi [...] out secular ends, and not for secular advantages, we prose [...] the cause of God; when we make not use of Religion, to dr [...] on a designe, to satisfie a passion and lust; when we prese [...] Gods Honour and service, before our own interests; when quit for him all those endearements and relations, wh [...] most naturally and orderly doe take up our affections; no [...] ­ger or clearer testimonies of great love can be showne: [...] good reason we have to doe so; God had no motive to love but his good pleasure; no end in setling his love upon us, to save and glorifie us; and its but justice that we love [...] for himselfe, that without any selfe ends we strive to please [...] and conforme to his will, who willeth nothing but our sa [...] fication and salvation; and no greater argument of love, [...] if God Calls us to it to suffer, to dye for God: he that [...] part with his God, to keep his Coyne; he that will desert station, and neglect his duty, because he shall finde troub [...] and hardships, and miseries in the engagement and servi [...] turnes Renegadoe and Apostate, and speaks plainly by his section, that the satisfaction of his lusts and interests, were cheife ayme of his desires and object he sought for; God [...] not at all in his thoughts, his intentions were base and unw [...] ­thy, servile and mercenary; he wore Gods livery, not for section, but gain; he pretended to him, not for duty, loya [...] or honour, but for pay, pillage or promotion. The D [...] thought Job an hypocrite, and therefore he thus Argued D [...] Job serve God for wought &c. Job 1.9.10.11. Well he kno [...] salse-hearted, double-minded men, would not, for they are [...] ­stable in all their wayes, off and on, as they spy advantage the reason of their service and pretences, is their successen prevalencies; if otherwise it happen, they curse, murmure, fret with impatiency; are apt to thinke God hath forsa [...] them, hath no mercy for them, they despaire, and in this sperate humour, speake evill of Dignities. But the Devill [...] [Page 81]deceived in Iob, he was an upright man, there was truth in his [...]nward parts: By his patlence, and constancy in his sufferings, [...]e declared his own sincerity, and confuted the Devils fancy; [...]e evidenced strongly his love to God, and effectually baffled [...]he malice of Satan; that he Preached the Devill was a Lyar, [...]nd a Murderer; Iob a sincere true man, who had not been so [...]mously known, had he not suffered. This cleares his sinceri­ [...]y, and teacheth us this duty, That God is to be served, whether [...]e be pleased to reward our services with Prosperity, or try them [...]y Adversity; thus we glorifie God. And
  • 2. We advantage our selves. Nothing more conduceth to [...]he advantage and honour of a Christian, then to suffer for his Profession, to obey Gods Call; for these advers [...]ies, detect and [...]iscover their concealed Graces and Habits, and makes them [...]minently conspicuous, and notorious: Many wise and good [...]en, had dyed under the Notion of weake men, Ideots, harme­esse, well-natured, easie Spirits, unlesse while they had lived, they had been p [...]t to the tryall: many affronts indignities, cornes and dishonours, have been cast on them; but indeed they gained reputation by them, whilest their Deportment were so [...]eroicke, so Christian, under their Afflictions, that as the tram­ [...]ing of dirty feet gives brightnesse to the Brasse, so all those ontumelious aspersions, and dishonourable useages, made them [...]ore glorious, beloved, admired; As the fire clenseth the Gold, [...]o affliction manifests Religion, 1 Pet. 1.7. it is, that we may [...]e found to the prayse and honour &c. These exercise many Graces, which otherwise are not so usefull: Faith, Hope, Pati­ [...]nce, Selfe-deniall, and makes us exemplarily appeare, (which otherwise we should not) to be humble, meek, charitable, con­stant Beleevers; such Starres as these cast not forth their light, [...]t in such Nights of temptation, trouble, and adversity. But [...]s an addition, and complement of honour. God stamps upon them by their sufferings, the Character and Image of his Bo­oved, their Head; he conformes them to the Image of his Son, [...]om. 8.29. and bestows on them the distinguishing note of [...] Children. He deales with them as with Sonnes, Heb. 12 6. [...].8. and after rewards them with an eternall weight of Glory, [...]ow. 8.17.18. 2 Cor. 4 17.18. That man knows little of [Page 82]the Gospel, who is offended at the sufferings of Gods deare [...] Servants, or deelines the Honour and Mercy of sufferings for Righteousnesse sake. The more generous Spirits of the Heathen had the same thoughts of their suffering fellow Citizens, and of their sufferings. Cicero saith, Qui nunquam certavit cu [...] fortuna, nullum nomen meretur. And Fler. lib. 2. cap. 2. account the Romans greatnesse, from their sufferings, in the cause [...] their Countrey, Magnitudo Populi Romani comprobatur cal [...] mita [...]i [...]us. And it was a true Observation which Minutius Fali [...] hinted at to Cacilius, Adeò omnes vostri viri, ques in exom plum praedicatis, aerumnis suis in [...]lyti floruorunt. All the Rom [...] Presidents of Vertue and Valour, were notorious sufferers; a [...] the most calamitous Persons for their Countries sake, were th [...] most renowned. And this their Phylosophers determined, con­cluding the Passive part of Fortitude, to be most Heroi [...] and Honourable. But now, if we consider, that our prese [...] sufferings, gaines us not onely Honour, but bringeth [...] Profit; that they are Advantages, as well as Glories; Th [...] thought, would almost perswade the most engaged Earthworm [...] to parr with his clay god, and wedge of confidence, for Christ sake, and for Heaven: And the Apostle tells us in plain term they are so; All things, even the worst of things, worke toge­ther, contrary to their nature and intentions, by a secret over­ruling Power, are engaged to plot and act for the best, the advantages of them that love God: and no greater lovers [...] him, then the resigned sufferers for him, Rom. 8.28. A strange way of exchange, to gaine by the worst, to purchase by losse to conquer by suffering; and yet so it is, Rom. 8.37. 2 Cor. 4.17. Heb. 12.10. and we experimentally finde it so. No [...] have so great a share of the consolation of the Spirit, are [...] much renewed in the inner man, have such serenety of Spri­rit, and contentation of mind, as they who possesse their soules in patience; that is, who suffering according to God will, commit their soules to him in well doing as unto a faith full Creator; and this is a reason why we should submit, so al [...] so why God useth this Method: He brought Light out of Darke­nesse, all things out of nothing: and this is as great a demon­ [...]ration of his power and goodnesse, as the former; by [...] [Page 83]nominy, to rayse to Glory; by Death, to restore to Life; from Poyson, to draw a Preservative; to bring the best out of the worst. And it is Saint Aaugustines Observation, Deus [...]deò bonus est; God is so good, that we would never suffer evill to be, unlesse he were so powerfull also, that he could [...]ring the greatest good, out of the most desperate evill. Titus sackes Jerusalem: This the Divine Providence ordered for a pu­nishment of the Jewes malice and wickednesse. Well, Ierusa­ [...]em is an heape of stones, the lewes are disperced; and this was used by God, as a fairer way, and more effectuall meanes, for the dissemination of the Gospel. This very order which God sent to Abraham, hath in it much concealed goodnesse and mercy; and though at first it seems harsh and rigorous, yet propius in­ [...]uenti, it is full of grace and truth, as we may perceive by the following circumstances. Abraham (and so we need not wander for an example) is commanded to quit his Countrey; the De­signe was, he should quit Idolatry; and this former a proper means to bring about the latter; for to abide in his owne Countrey, had been a perpetuall obstacle to his then intended course of god­linesse, (for what agreement hath the Temple of God with [...]dols? what communion hath Light with Darkenesse?) and Idolatry was the Epidemicall sinne of that Nation: But if his abode there altered not his course, yet undoubtedly it had been very dangerous (and no Man is to venture his Religion upon a hazard, nor subject it to a temptation) in respect of his many naturall obligations and relations of Countrey, Parents, and Kindred; whereas by quitting his Countrey, and sojourning in Canaan, he became disengaged from those ties of Nature and Native soyle, and fitly disposed to venture on Religion, and to make progresse in the wayes of godlinesse: For its most cer­taine, what the Roman Historian Observed, Falicitate corrum­pimur, nothing more destructive of Religion, then too much worldly prosperity; it makes men apt to forget, to extinguish and obliterate all notions of God and godlinesse; to pervert the principles of holy life, and set the will and affections upon the pursuite of phantasticke, unprofitable, deceiving apparitions of pleasure and profit, pride, luxury, &c. is almost the inseparable companion of a full and high estate; and it is a great mercy [Page 84]in God to afflict, that we may be humble sober, wise, religion devout: Out of very truth and faithfulnesle, God causeth hi [...] People to be troubled: And therefore David resolved, It [...] good for me that I have been afflicted: that I may learne th [...] Statutes, Psal. 119.71. Afflictions makes us tractable and teach able, apt to receive Instruction and to be kept to it; but be­fore his afflictions, he was as Ieremy said of himselfe, an u [...] ­med Cal [...]e. I went wrong, verse 67. he despised all counsell and would have no correction; and probably, had wandred a [...] the dayes of his life, after the lusts of his owne heart, had h [...] not been restrained and re-called by Gods afflicting Hand [...] Voyce.
  • 3. Religion is not a light perfunctory employment, but [...] sad, serious, and laborious employment, Res severa est veru [...] gandium, Senica Epist. 49. It requires great austerity of Spirit strict performances, humility, selfe-denyall, mortification, [...] effectuall dereliction of sinne; abrenunciation of the World called, 1 Thes. 1.3. The worke of Faith: which as Pisc. in lo [...] expounds, it is [...], or [...], an active, working Faith, to kill and crucifie the old Man, and all his lusts, to mor­tifie a beloved darling sinne, to bring our bodies in subjection to be at enmity with the World, to refuse worldly pleasure [...] when temptations, beyond duty or safety; to take paines in the cause of God, which is expressed by the following Phrase, the lobour of love, which is [...], a labouring love, such as sets us to enquire after the Law, to buy the Truth, search the Scriptures, to endeavour for a right understanding in the wayes of truth and godlinesse, according to our respective op­portunities and capacities: to put on the armour of Righte­ousnesse on the right hand and on the left: If we be not cal­led to suffer and dye for Christ, yet we must dye unto sinne, and live unto righteousnesse; If not to forsake our houses yet our lusts; if not to goe out of the World, yet to use the World a [...] if we used it not, that is, cut off all our portion in this life excepting so much of it, as is necessary for our present subsi­stance, to secure our Inheritance in the World to come; and this is our patience of hope also, as well as in the down-right suffering part, Heb. 10.36. the burden of the Lord, a doing [Page 85]the worke of the Lord in voluntary severities and abstinences, [...] a seperation from the World, 2 Cor. 6.17. expressed by [...]hose summons, Depart, depart yee, goe ont from Babel, flee out [...]om the Chaldeans, touth no uncleane thing, Esay 48.20. & 52. 1. have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkenesse, no [...]ommerce, that is, no complyance or confederacy with the workers of wickednesse, Rev. 18.4. This is that which Christ [...]eakes of plucking out the right Eye, cutting off the right and; to relinquish whatsoever is deare or neere unto us, if it is an impediment, or a diversion from the paths of holinesse, [...]r an occasion or inducement to sinne and impiety: all which was represented to the Church of God, under the name of the pouse, in that charge, Psal. 45.10. Hearken, O Daughter, and [...]usider, and incline thine eare: forget also thine own people, and [...]y fathers house. So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty &c.
  • 4. God tempers the rigour of his precept, with the sweet­nesse of a Promise. If the first part, the Summons, be dis-relli­ [...]ing and unpleasant: The second part, the sub-joyned Premi­ [...]s, are comfortable and refreshing. God sends alwayes a gra­ous raine upon his Inheritance, to refresh it, when it is dry; [...] gives sharpe Physicke in a Sugred recipe; after a Seed time [...] Teares, an Harvest of Joy. God leaveth not Abraham de­ [...]itute, but promiseth a great reward; for his Country, Canaan better Land; for his Kindred, a great Nation; for his Fathers [...]use, he shall be a Father of many Nations. God in our [...]fferings, would have us to contemplate on the excellencies, [...]d depend on the truth, and rejoyce in the goodnesse of his [...]romises, which farre exceed both the number and greatnesse [...] our hardnesses. And thus, after an order of sadnesse, he addes [...]ven blessings of comfort; which I shall breifly describe in [...]der.
    • 1. I will make thee a great Nation. Great, both in num­ber and multitude. Populous Nations deseended from Abra­ [...]m by Keturah and Hagar, Gen. 25. And great also in re­ [...]wne and vertue, men famous in their Generations, who were after. builders in the house of Israel, issued from them, as Kings and Prophets.
    • 2. I will blesse thee: Make thee Prosperous, and Religions.
    • [Page 86]3. I will make thy Name great: Not onely to be the [...] ­ther of the Faithfull by a perpetuall Decree; but to be con [...] ­sed among the Nations, and reverenced among the Heathen Iosephus lib. 1. Antiq.
    • 4. Thou shalt be a blessing: Thou shalt surely be blesse [...] And not onely so, but in abstracto, thou shalt be a blessing selfe; and also because, that expression, the Lord blesse the [...] Abraham, was the usuall forme of blessing among the Hebr [...].
    • 5. I will blesse them that blesse thee: Others shall be ble [...] for thy sake.
    • 6. I will curse them that curse thee: All thine Ene [...] shall perish and be scattered.
    • 7. All the Nations of the Earth shall be blessed in thee. [...] both Jews and Gentiles, who are imitators of Abrahams [...] ­ty, and followers of his Faith. And immediately hereupon confirmation of all, God appeared to Abraham; which also a further comfort to him in his affliction. Thus, Dol [...] voluptas invicem cedunt; Heavinesse may endure for a Ni [...] but Joy commeth in the Morning. Christ deales thus [...] his Disciples, he forewarnes them, what they shall suffer; ever annexes to his predictions of affliction, succeeding a [...] ­rances of mercy and comfort: In the World you shall [...] tribulation: but be of good comfort. I have overcome the Wo [...] Iohn 16.33. After we are required to leave Father and [...] ­ther &c. A Promise is made for the receipt of an hundred [...] here, and hereafter a life of blessednesse to all eternity. T [...] are much mistaken, and the authors of their own miseri [...] who sits downe under a crosse in pensivenesse and anxiety Spirit, and never looks to that future glory which is prepa [...] for them; whereas if they did consider the after rewards, the would not count their present sufferings, &c. Rom. 8.18. e [...] because they looke not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen: Temporall afflictions and [...] ­rituall consolations, are not incompatible, 1 Thes. 1.6. b [...] alwayes meet in those, who abound in hope and confident of an infinite advantage, when the day of restitution com­meth. But if we have nothing but naturall dependence no expectation or security of Heaven, the feare of Dea [...] [Page 87]wounds us to Death; we lose our Soules, to save our Persons [...]d Estates; our hearts faint and faile us at every shake, whereas we reflect upon that recompence which is laid up for Be­ [...]evers; this would allay all our secular sorrows, allienate and [...]se the pressures we lye under, rejoycing in hope, Rom. 12.12. [...]e shall not decline to goe any whither we are called to, to [...]e any thing is commanded, to endure any thing shall be flicted upon us; we will run with patience the Race that set before us, looking on, and for Jesus, the author and fi­sher of our Faith.
  • 5. The former Observation is strengthened by that which [...]lowes, He went, not knowing whether. Know he did, That [...]ethersoever he went, God was his exceeding great reward, Curtius said, Ʋbicun (que) vir fortis sedem elegerit, Patria est; he was certaine, that what place soever the Divine Pro­dence should guide him to, that should be his Inheritance; [...] what that place was, he neither knew by name, or scitua­ [...]n, or description in a Map; yet this exigent was he put to, remove from a knowne certaine Inheritance, whereof had seizine and actuall Possession, for a strange and un­owne Land, which he had onely in expectation; a setled bitation, for an ambulatory wavering Pilgrimage; God quires of us to forsake our temporall present pleasures, [...]hich we taste, feele, and see, for that Estate in Reversion, [...]ose excellencies, Eye cannot see, Eare cannot heare, nei­ [...]er can they enter into the Heart of Man; onely we have me rude and unformed Idaea's and glimpses thereof, enough make them amiable, and defireable. Flesh apprehendeth no­ing, but what may be demonstrated by sense; and carnall [...]en move and act upon such advantages, as their Intelligence all conduct them; and thinks folly and madnesse to lose an [...]ouse, an Estate here, for a Mansion, and an Inheritance in [...]version. Faith moves not by the direction of sense, but up­ [...] the dictates of Conscience: Acts not with reference to [...] present conveniences, but according to the suggestions of eligion, and expresses of the Holy Spirit; is makes the Be­ [...]ever follow the Heavenly Call, with an indifferency of Spirit, [...] neglect of the present emergencies, not respecting whether [Page 88]he goeth, what he suffereth for Christs sake; for he know [...] and is satisfied, that he who hath promised is faithfull; that [...] will not tempt him above his ability, but will give an Issue and yet what a Beleever doth in this case is no more, but w [...] a wise provident, carnall man doth for his temporall Inter [...] The Merchant and Mariner leaves their Families and Postession Saile into remote, and sometimes unknown Countries, [...] all the hazards of Winde and Weather, depends on [...] firmenesse of a three inch Planke, and many times upon [...] strength and working of a Cable; and all this he under takes upon this score, in hopes that his Voyage may [...] (and, Spes est rei incertae nomen) advantagions, or honora­ble to himselfe, an improvement to his Estate, an enrich [...] his Posterity, though he knoweth not which way the Wi [...] shall drive him, or into whose hands he shall fall: and thi [...] the condition of all such who seek their fortunes, they le [...] the present modicum, in expectation of a greater proportion if it fall well, they are made; if not, they are undone. [...] now a Beleever hath an advantage, and therefore more rea [...] to follow his designes; for though he leave his pittance [...] yet assured he is he shall fall into the hands of his Heave [...] Father; all things shall goe well with him, and so his desi [...] is both more Religious and prudentiall. This was the co [...] ­tion of the Hebrews the Apostle wrote unto, to be Plunder expelled their Houses, Exiled from their Native Soyle; to [...] vagrants and wanderers, without any setled place of residence but he confirmes them by this consideration, this very Est [...] was long since praefigured, and as it were consecrated in Abra­ham. If then our case be, as this of Abraham, or these Hebrew or as the Primitive Christians, whose Motto was, Quos fugia­mus, habemus, quo fugiamus, non habemus. Yet let the sa [...] considerations of Faith and Religion, and Reason, stablish [...] settle our minds and hearts in a patient submission to G [...] good pleasure and will; let them who have not hope, or [...] have their Portions and their hopes here onely, fret, murma [...] and repine; but for us. (Christian and beloved Brethren) let [...] be stedfast and unmoveable, abounding alwayes in the wor [...] of the Lord, forasmuch as you know, that your labour is not [Page 89]vaine in the Lord. It was the Panegyricke which Chrysost, [...]de of his Antiochians; [...], [...]. No contingency, disaster, feare danger, difficulty, or hard­nesse could abate or coole their Zeale; nay, saith he, it did not [...]ely not extinguish, [...], but did the more in­ [...]me and kindle, Hom. 4. ad Pop. Antioch. Which brings in the [...] 6. The perseverance of Abrahams Faith by which he abode, [...]. There are some, who begin in the Spirit, but end in the [...]esh: their Religion is fierce and violent at the first declara­tion, but after cooles and shakes; like those Galls mentioned in [...]or. lib. 2. Hist. cap. 6. Quorum primus impetus est major quam [...]rorum, sequens winor quam foeminarum; their first charge is [...]ore hot then that of men, the very next fainter then the as­ [...]lts of Women; Like the Children of Ephraim, who being [...]rnessed and carrying Bowes, turned themselves backe in the [...]y of battell. They are all Religion at the first overture; No­ [...]ing but come see my Zeale for the Lord of Hosts; but the de­ [...]ne is discovered the hypocrite raised, and it was the heate of [...]dust, or the fury of a passion; their pretences, like untimely [...]it, never comes to maturity: Of the two and thirty thousand [...]hch Gideou levied to fight with the Mideanites, two and twen­ty thousand poore spirited cowards, (who probably would va­ [...]ur highly of their valour at the first) deserted the service: [...]nd upon a second assey of their resolution, nine thousand se­ven hundred fell off. Those who by their Baptisme are listed in­ [...] the number of Christs Souldiers: and when they are called [...] the service, are distracted with base unworthy feares and [...]alousies, and like white livered dastards, either Apostate, or [...]ine would; or are fo foftned and setled with ease and sensuall [...]elights, that they cannot, or would not endure the burden and [...]eate of the day, are no Subjects of Christs Kingdome, no [...]embers of the Army of Martyrs, the company of Saints, no [...]hildren of Abraham, not respecting his temporall conveni­encies or relations, conversed in a farre distant Countrey, and [...]ved there as a Stranger, never longing, or in his thoughts re­learning homeward; which is a new and more heightned tryall [...]f his Faith, then the former: For now in this exigent, his [...]pectations seems to be totally frustrated, and his confidences [Page 90]deluded, in as much, as after he arrived in Canaan, which depended o [...] for a Possession, he obtained nothing perman or fixed which he could owne or challenge, but a Sepulch [...] and this also he purchased seventy yeares after his arrivall. Enterre his beloved Sarah. his Companion both in his Tra [...] and Hopes. Neither did his Posterity Inherit any part or [...] [...]ell there, till some yeares after his life determined; and the fore, it is significantly expressed here, He lived in Tents, no [...] Villages or Mansion Houses, which are fixed Places of reside [...] bu [...] in Tabernacles, which were portable and moveable lo [...] ­ings. He was necessitated to shift Quarters from Place to P [...] sometimes to the Mountains, sometimes to the Champian; [...] this he was put to with Isaac and Jacob; with Isaac sev [...] and five yeares, and fifteen with Jacob. The more Abra [...] endeavoured the advancement and settlement of his Poster [...] the lesse reason he had to expect it; all his labours proved cesselesse, and his hopes vaine: For while he promised him [...] a Countrey, he and his Wife lived and died there in the c [...] city of Strangers onely; and his Posterity had no other [...] come for many years after them. And yet it had been so [...] content and satisfaction, if he could have continued there; [...] a devouring deadly Famine drives him thence into Egypt fo [...] supply of Food: And even here also he was necessitated as a [...] grim to sojourne and wander. Flesh and Blood would had have digested these difficulties and contrarieties; but tho [...] all failed, yet his Spirit rested contented and quiet, and he p [...] severes unto the end, because his Faith was argumentative a rationall For thus did he discourse himselfe into Contenta [...] and Perseverance: What? though at once I be dispossessed my inheritance and hopes; though I have nothing to live [...] but bare dependencies; yet I trust in God All-sufficient, Truth selfe, Wisedome it selfe, Goodnesse it selfe; I will not que [...] on his veracity, prescribe to his Wisedome, suspect his goodn [...] this I know and am assured of, that he can, and in his go [...] time will, accomplish his engagement to my Posterity: A [...] as for me, he will conferre on me in lieu of all these tem [...] ­ [...]alties, what is infinitely better, his Heavenly Kingdome; comparison whereof, the materiall Heavens and the glory the [...] [Page 91]the Earth and the fulnesse thereof, are but meet emptinesses [...] vanities; for so it is further expressed. he looked high, farre [...]ve the Earth, at a City having a Foundation, verse 10. of this [...]apter. This very reason concludes his Faith not to be Enthu­stick nor fantasticke, but as I said, discursive and rationall;

Faith was sustained by proper and effectuall mediums. and [...]refore constant and perseverant, durable and unalterable, like foundation, and in a subordination like to that Foundation [...] Founder his Faith relyed on. From all which Premises, these [...] generall Doctrines are deducible.

• 1. When God makes over to us any Promise, we are wholly [...] referre the Time and Manner of its accomplishment, to his [...]e good pleasure and wise disposition; it belongs not to us to [...]scribe or determine any thing, in respect of either the way, or [...]ne of the execution of his just decrees, or performance of [...] gracious Promises; for this is not to submit to, but chal­ [...]ge God; and which is more impudently daring, to impose [...] God; Its in Scripture expression To tempt God, Provoke [...] Grieve him, Psal. 78.40.41. They limited, they had the [...]dnesse to appoint God, when, and how he should save them; [...]d this was, to provoke him &c.
• 2. God accomplisheth his Promises in farre choycer bles­ [...]gs many times, then in his Grant are awarded or expres­ [...]d. And yet this doth not breake his Charter, but commends [...] Liberality; For as the lesser is alwayes contained in the [...]uter, so he that gives the greater doth also give the lesser; [...] that promiseth the loane or gift of a Penny, and in lieu there­ [...] sende [...] a Pound, or in stead of a Pound, giveth a Diamond [...] the value of some hundreds, violates not his Promise, but [...]untifully performes it; and by his bounty and munificence, [...] fordeth a new Obligation, and occasion of gratitude and ob­ [...]rvance. And thus, because Earthly Inheritances are service­ [...]le onely for our present accommodation, God was better then is word, in Abrahams construction, when he bestowed on him [...]eaven and Life Eternall. That Promise made to the Obedi­ [...]t, in the fifth Commandement; or (if that be the meaning of [...] Words) The [...]eek shall Inherit the Earth, Matth. 5. are both [...] satisfied; when God calls his servants, the Obedient and [Page 92]Meck out of this World, in their Youth and fulnesse of [...] ­row, and Estates them in Heaven; because he gives the m [...] Mat. 25 21. the body for the shadow, the substance for [...] Image, the Truth for the Type; and so that Promise, M [...] 10.30. is made good, if performed here or hereafter; if rec [...] ­penced with restitution of the same in specie, though that every respect may not be presumed, or the reward commu [...] into Eternity. And this holds in many dispensations of [...] goodnesse, without a removall to Heaven, if God exalts [...] understanding and spirits to strong and serious apprehens [...] and contemplations of his excellencies and perfections, wh [...] we are here in an otherwise sad and tragicall Estate: as fo [...] stance; If he permits us to be indigent, and sharpely nece [...] ­ [...]ous, yet gives freely of the treasures of his Wisedome in Sp [...] ­ [...]uall Understanding; to make us rich in Faith, and abound good Workes; If he suffer us to be persecuted and afflicted, a [...] yet affords peace of Conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost [...] in these interims, the love of God be shed abroad in our hea [...] and we be rooted and grounded in our hopes: If in ignom [...] and dishonour, and yet the Spirit of God and Glory rest [...] us; If in maladies and bodily infirmities, yet the distemp [...] and diseases of our Soule be removed and cured, and spirit [...] health and life substituted; If dispossessed of our Inheritan [...] and yet we possesse our Soules in patience, this is not to [...] ­ceive hard measure at the hands of God, but good meas [...] ­pressed downe, shaken together, and running over: God [...] these dealings is not hard or austere, but good and gracious [...] us. And O that we had the spirits to discerne, and the lig [...] to distinguish, and hearts to come, taste, and see how graci [...] the Lord is.
• Lastly, Abrahams Heavenly mindednesse is considerable [...] severall instances. In Canaan he sojourned in Tents, Amb [...] ­tory and uncertaine Lodging; In Heaven he expected a City [...] Mansion firme and immutable, of perfect and lasting repose. [...] Canaan he lived in the open Ayre, seperated from the so [...] ­ty of the Natives; In Heaven, he should finde a foundat [...] where are resident the innumerable company of Angels, [...] [Page 93]sanctifying Spirits, the generall Assembly and Church of the [...]rst borne; the Tabernacles he moved in, were the Workes [...]f Mens hands, of their composition and fashioning: the Ci­ [...]y of the living God was his owne Fabricke, God the Ar­ [...]itect and Builder, 2 Cor 5.1. So this City was not a ter­ [...]ene Habitation, subject to mutations and casualties, by se­ [...]erall contingencies and modes of Governement, but an hea­ [...]enly, whose Foundations cannot be removed or shaken. Here [...]elow, Cities are many times broken with divisions, factions, and Interests; where we may not abide, unlesse we be a par­ [...]y (and there is hazard) or newters; and then we are liable [...] be hated of all, and to be abused by every prevailing facti­ [...]n. This City of God, is furnished with the peace of God, [...]aintained in a perfect and indissoluble unity of the holy [...]aints and Angels. O let the same minde be in us, that was [...]n Abraham; despise the World, because we thinke of Hea­ven; not to be intangled with the lusts of the World, because [...]ere we are Strangers: in vaine doe we look for a Mansion [...]ere, unlesse here, as Strangers and Pilgrims, we abstaine [...]om fleshly lusts, 1 Peter 2.11. Unlesse by Obedience and [...]atience in well-doing, we goe out of Babylon, into the place which we shall after receive for an Inheritance: Unlesse we [...]voyd and flee from the occasions of sinne; unlesse we deny [...]ur selves, and become Humble, Patient, Chaste, Liberall, Mercifull, and Obedient; Invitamur ergo à Deo Patre, ut fa­ [...]ice & beata commutatione, Patr [...]m Diabolum relinquamus; If [...]e come not, or be not entertained when we come, Perditi [...] [...]ua ex te, our destruction is of our selves. The whole I shall [...]hut [...] with Saint Augustines words, lib. Serm. de temp. Serm. 68 Novum hoe probationis ge [...], habenti propria, exi­ [...]ia iudicere peregrina, ingerere laborem itineris quiescenti, im­ [...]erare penuriam possidenti; & tantarum facultatem Domiu [...], n [...] ­ [...]issi [...]atem imponere peregrinandi. Libenter tamen fides accepit, quicquid arduam videbatur incredulis, & sententiam Dci tan­ [...]uam qui optare videretur, accepit fidelis, And thus I passe to the third Part.

The third Part. The Prayer.

O Incomprehensible, Immutable, and All-sufficient Lord G [...] whose wayes are in the great Deeps, and whose Foot-s [...] are not knowne; who by secret methods of mercy, ordereth [...] saddest contingencies, to the advantages of thy Servants, and [...] thy Wisedome and Power bringeth good out of evill: We glor [...] thy Wisedome, celebrate thy Power, magnifie thy Mercy [...] thy Goodnesse, adm [...]re thy Providence, and doe most humbly [...] plore thy Grace and assistance, that we with great attention, [...] devotion, and much humility, may hearken to thy Heavenly [...] the expresses of thy Will, and the motions of thy Spirit, and [...] as ready to Obey as Heare, that at all times we may expresse [...] obedience by an effectuall dereliction of our sinnes, and more [...] ­tion of our lasts; and when thou pleasest, we may with a q [...] and week Spirit, be contented, and resigned in all changes of P [...] ­son and condition; and when thou callest, reddily forsake all [...] naturall Interests, Relations and Conver [...]ences. Let [...] our l [...] to our Worldly endearements, or the feare, or losse of our E [...] thy Possessions, be ever able to dispossesse [...] of our hopes of H [...] ­ven. Let us never practise any indirect or unwarrantable [...]on­ses, either to procure, or preserve an Estate; that we being [...] ­grims and Strangers here, in affection as well as condition, [...] long after, and labour for a continuing City, demeaning our se [...] as Strangers in all modesty and sobric [...]y: acting as Strangers moving homewards to our Countrey, the Heavenly Jerusale [...] over-looking the presect, and e [...]ing the future, the Heaven Ma [...]sions not made with hands, the Inheritance incorruptible, [...] defiled, that f [...]deth not away, eternall in the Heavens, Abraham b [...]som [...] the place of [...]ost to the Sonnes of Abraham, to live fo [...] ever with the God of Abraham. To which God, Father, So [...] and Holy Ghost, be all Glory, Honour, and Im [...]tality, [...] and to all Eternity, Amen.

SARAHS Seed.

SArah was formerly Abrahams consort in his Exile; shee is now his Partner, in the Promised Seed; they were con­joyned by God in holy Wedlocke, they are not separated or divided in their holy Faith; and so, as neer as might be. [...]he Apostle joynes them in his discourse, for honoured Exam­ [...]les of Faith and Magnanimity. Abraham followed the Voyce [...]nd Call of his Lord and God: Sarah followes the example of [...]er Lord and Master (for so she acknowledged him, 1 Pet. 3.6.) [...]nd is therefore the immediately following Example here; and [...]ndeed for the Honour of her Sex, is put into the Gatalogue; even that Sex, though the weakest, may for all that be strong in [...]aith; and therefore it is emphatically expressed, [...], and also for the encouragement of the Hebrew Women, that they would submit to any conditions with their Yoke-fellows, and not through softnesse, delecacy, or wantonnesse, decline [...]opartnership with their Husbands in their sufferings; nor through incredulity, or tendernesse, endeavour to disswade them from their stedfastnesse, and prous undertaking. For the He­brew Men were ambitious to be called the Sonnes of Abra­ [...]am; and the Women, the Daughters of Sarah; and as they took themselves obliged to the imitation of Abrahams Piety; so these, to follow the Faith of Sarah; whom Saint Peter in the above-cited Place, commends, for her Obedience to her [Page 96]Husband: And our Apostle here, for her Faith in God. Throug [...] Faith also Sarah her selfe received strength to conceive Seed, &c.

The first Part.

The enquiry will here be, whether any extraodinary abil [...] ­ties were de novo, conferred on Abraham and Sarah, to stre [...] then them for Procreation? And to this I answer, That though they were not simply unapt for Generation; yet to humane ap­prehension it was altogether improbable, that Abraham and Sarah after so long co-habitation without Issue, should [...] length in their Old Age have Children; for if in his young yeares he received no Children by Sarah; much lesse hopes [...] there when he was an hundred yeares Old, and Sarah ninety and so if we respect Sarah's former-sterility, and present i [...] becility, that shee was both Old (For it ceased to be with S [...] ­rah after the manner of Women) and Barren, the Worke see [...] miraculous. For though Abraham received no new Generati [...] faculty from God to beget Isaac; yet certainly, in as much [...] Sarah both in her youth (and then the custome of Women co [...] ­tinued with her) was Barren: of necessity shee must be m [...] more, when she was both Old, and that use discontinued; a [...] so we may safely determine, God gave her strength to Concei [...] which formerly shee had not. Tis true, Adam begot a Chil [...] at the Age of 130. yeares: and Methuselah at 187. Gen. 5. & 25. but these lived eight or nine hundred yeares, and so [...] marvell. But after the Deluge, the life of Man shranke up, a [...] shortned; and in the period between Abraham and Moses, [...] lived not two hundred yeares; for Abraham lived but 17 yeares, and Sarah 127. who yet are noted for old People. B [...] in Moses time, they were reduced to seventy or eighty year [...] Psal. 90. And so in that period wherein Abraham lived, p [...] ­bably there was more required then the ordinary strength [...] Nature at an hundred yeares; (and though after Sarah's dea [...] he had many Children by Keturah. yet this was from the co [...] ­tinuance of that supernaturall Power, which he received fro [...] the Begetting of Isaac) and as for Sarah to Conceive at nine [...] yeares, was certainly miraculous, seeing she in the prime and co [...] ­ceived pregnancy of her Age, was Barren.

But her another difficulty is to be cleared; for Gen. 18. [...] [Page 97] Sarah is reported to laugh at the news, that shee should con­ceive, and was sharpely rebuked for her incredulity; how then can it be verified, That through Faith shee received, &c. or that shee ju [...]ged him faithfull who had Promised? To this Quere, it is answered, That probably this was not a laughter of joy or admiration, but contempt and scorne, conceiving the subject matter of the relation impossible, and so r di [...]alous: neither can shee be excused, for that shee knew not whether God him­selfe, or an Angel delivered the Words though as soon as she knew, she acquiesced in the revelation: For that positive asser­tion, I will returne as a set time, &c. doth evidently argue, that the affirmer was either God himselfe, or an Angel; and Sa­rahs denying her selfe to laugh, is evidence enough, that she was convinced in Conscience, that he was God, or an Angel; nei­ther could any one have rebuked her for incredulity, but God, who is the alone searcher of hearts; And so Augustine resolve, it, To [...]. 4. qu [...]st. sup. Gen. cap. 36. Dominus non redarguit Abra­ham cum riserit, quia [...]llius risus admirationis & latitiae fait; Saram v [...]re redarguit, quia fait risus dubit [...]tionis, & ab i [...]e dijudicari potuit, qui corda hominum nevit: Yet he thinks it a womanly modesty at first to deny it, though she was so ingeni­ous, that after the reprehension, she neither defended it, nor replyed, but Beleeved. Sarahs Faith then was mixed with in­credulity, or weakenesse, like his Marke 9.24. and though at the first conceit she seemed to dis-beleeve the revelation; yet a second consideration, mastered and suppressed this carnality; and so she received strength to Beleeve, and to conceive; he [...] spirit prevailed against the suggestions of her flesh, and her Faith prevailed over her naturall imbicility and sterility.

The second Part.

Let us next coasider what strength our Faith may receive from the Premises, and what issue this fruitfull President affords.

• 1. Abraham and Sarah before they received the Promised Seed, were almost out of hopes; they against and above hope. heleeved in and under hope; their Faith must be frequently exercised: And this is the condition of the Sonnes of Abra­ham, and Daughters of Sarah. The Children of Israel are pro­mised Deliverance, yet after this, their Taskemasters are more [Page 99]rigorous, their Bondage more intollerable, and their yoke hea­vier: and after they returne out of Egypt, they meet with no­thing but the representations of Death and seeming impossi­bilities of escape; the Red Sea before them, an Army of Egyp­tians behinde; and they were at a losse in themselves, till Go [...] by a myracle forced a way of Deliverance. Joseph is promised high advancement, and superiority over his Brethren; but for a long time he finds nothing but hatred from them; and servitu [...] and slavery from the Merchants; and after all, he is sentence [...] to close imprisonment; and in this condition he lived, till God by an undiscernable way of mercy, preferred, and exalted him above his Brethren. David had a Crowne assigned him, an [...] was actually and solemnly Enthroned, though not possessed [...] but before that he obtained it, he was chased like a Partridge o [...] the Mountains; he was banished, and forced to hide himself in holes and eaves; all he gained by it, was to be a misera­ble sugitive and vagrant; till God moved the hearts of the [...] ­fractory Israelites to accept him.
• 2. That Attribute of God, which Sarah most considered was his fidelity or faithfulnesse; She judged him faithfull: The Word signifies, truth, sincerity, to keep touch: In Scripture sense it imports power, and sufficiency to performs an engagement [...] Thus impotent and deficient subjects are said to be false and lyars; A Horse is a lye, Psal. 33.17. that is, unable to deli­ver: great men are lies, they promise, but performe not, Ps [...] 62.9. but God is faithfull, full of goodnesse and power, o [...] willingnesse and ability, Heb. 10.23. Psal. 36.5. & 57. [...] 2 Tim. 1.12.
• 3. God pardoned Sarahs infirmity, upon her after repen­tance, and beleife: he charges not his Children with those er­rata's they strive against, and are to them invincible; neither doth he esteeme of, or censure them according to that p [...]i [...]ciple which they oppose and deny; but according to that which i [...] praedominant, and the denomination is from the better or pre­vailing party. Peter, notwithstanding his doubting, is in the account of Beleevers; Why doubtest thou? O thou of little Faith. God will not quench the smoking flax, nor bruise the broken reed; Faith, even to the pittance and proportion of a [Page 98]graine of mustard-seed, shall be accepted with him, whose pro­perty is to be easte entreated; And hereupon he entitles him­selfe, The good Shepheard, because he taketh the weake Sheep in his armes; and the weake Beleever is received, though not for his weakenesse, yet even for that a Beleever Rom. 14.3. God hath received him; he is Gods servant, verse 4. Sarahs infir­mities are covered, her Faith commended her vertues extol­ed, her defailings not mentioned. Gods goodnesse and long-suffering coloured and concealed Jobs impatience; and though [...]e murmured, yet it is said expressely, He sinned not, because of his sincerity and faithfulnesse. Indeed the Law requires per­fect unsinning obedience, and approves no Act, but what in [...]bus numeris, in every circumstance good, without the least [...]esect or imperfection, bonum est ex integra causa; but the Gospel offereth more grace, accepts the weake if sincere, en­leavours of Bele [...]vers, Psal. 103.13.14. Mal. 3 17. O then happy we, if we but faithfull servants, if our workings be bu [...] [...]ordiall and upright; no evill adhering circumstance shall be ever able to condemne us: O that we would imitate this good­nesse of God; its the fashion of the world to extenuate or con­ [...]eale our neighbours vertues, to proclaime their bad; which [...]roceeds from a spirit of Pride, Se fe-love, Envy, Detraction, or Malice: The Character of our Heavenly Father, is the Lord good and gracious, long-suffering, and of great goodnesse, par­doning iniquities, transgressions and sinnes, not imputing co­vering them: O that we were like him in Charity; if we were, then our Charity would cover a multitude of faults.
• 4. Sarah and many Propheresses, the Virgin Mother, and many other holy Women, recorded for followers of Christ, have sufficiently honoured that Sex for their Piety; and there hath been from Age to Age such of them as have remonstra­ted their magnanimity and sincerity. Saint Basil relates, That [...]an Honourable Matron [...] immediately before her Death, used this Exhortation to those of her Sex; who were Spectators of her sufferings; Remember (saith she) it was not onely the flesh of Man, was taken to make in Women; but his bone also; so we being bone of his bone, have received strength, spirit, and con­rage [Page 101]with and from him, which we also should imploy in the [...] [...]r [...]ises of our holy Faith.
• 5. Sarah received strength; What is it that thou hast, which thou hast not received? It is God which raiseth Families, an [...] gives Children, Psal. 127.3. and if God give them, it is [...] just and congruous we returne them to him, consecrate the [...] to God, traine them up in his discipline; and if he reman [...] them, and call for them (as many times he doth) freely [...] surrender and resigne them.
• 6. God afforded not this happinesse to Abraham and Sarah till their Old Age: God many times communicates [...] his Grace to us, till our strength faile us; not that we sh [...] presume that God will doe so, because he may, and someti [...] doth; but that we should not at any time diffide his mer [...] or driven into despaire: Some he calleth at the eleveth ho [...] and one Theife upon the Crosse: But we must beware, [...] there is danger in all delayes; and no estate more dangero [...] then to deferre Repentance, till Old Age, or the Death-Bed ma [...] us unserviceable for the World, and unable for the prosecu [...] of its lusts: For though it be certain, that true Repentance [...] never too late: yet it is also most true, that late repentance [...] seldome or never [...].
• 7. Sarahs Wombe receiving life and strength to Concei [...] represents unto us the manner of our conversion to God. Th [...] Soule naturally is dead in sinne, till by Faith in Christ Jesus, [...] receives life and strength to bring forth fruits of Righteousness there is a plastick fermative vertue in the Immortall Se [...] 1 Peter 1.23. which begetteth in us the new Man, which [...] ter God is Created in Righteousnesse and true Holinesse; An [...] as Isaac had not his being from his Parents, by their natura [...] generative faculty, but by a supernaturall assistance; and there­fore he is said to be, not the Sonne aft [...] the Flesh, but after the Spirit, and of Promise Gal 4.23. So it is not by Natur [...] but by a Power from Heaven, that Christ is formed in [...] and he dwelleth in our hearts by Faith; Iohn 1.13. Who [...] borne not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will Man, but of God.

The third Part. The Prayer.

O Omnipotent Lord, the God of all consolations, and Father of all mercies, who gavest new strength and abilities to the de­ [...]ayed bones and impayred members of Abraham, even as dead; ev [...]ve our dead spirits, give a spirit [...]all being to our natures [...]ead in sinne: Create cleane hearis, and renew right spirits with­ [...] us; that we may dye unto finne, and live unto righteousnesse. Thou who gavest power to Sarah to conceive, and bring forth a [...]ly Seed, rayse us by thy mighty power from the corruption of [...]ur natures, to the renovation of our mind, that through the [...]mortall Seed, planted and watered in our hearts by the blessed [...]pirit, we may receive strength and ability of spirit to conceiv [...] and f [...]rm [...] Christ within us; to resist sinue, and adhere to godli­nesse; and notwithstanding the barrennesse and weakenesse of our [...]ture to be inabled in the inner, to performe all holy daties, to [...]ho [...]nd and be fruitfull in all good Workes. We beseech thee, most gracious God) to extend thy goodnesse to thy whole Cathe­ [...]ne Church; deliver her from those oppressors that seeke to de­ [...]oure her; comfort all her desolations; make her Desert, like Eden, and her Wildernesse like the Garden of the Lord, to bring [...]orth holy Plants i [...] flonrish in the House of God, and to Worship [...]iu [...] in the beauty of holinesse: let joy and gladnesse be found [...]erein, prayse, and the voy [...]e of singing. Rayse up unto her nur­ing Fathers and nursing Mothers; and strengthen her to Con­ [...]e [...]ve, and bring up as many as the Starres of the Ski [...] in mul­ [...]itude and as the Sand of the S [...]a [...]sh [...]re, which is innumer [...]ble, [...]o offer [...]up unto thee the dayly sacrifice of prayse and thansgi­ving, and after to sing uncessantly, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, which is, and which is to co [...]e. Blessing [...]onour and glory be unto him that fitteth on the Thr [...]e, and to the Lambe, and to the holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

ABRAHAMS Offering.

THis is the tenth and last tryall of Faithfull Abraham Para [...] hath Observed from the Hebrews; but of others the most grievous, dangerous, and uncourteous, the [...] ­ [...]lusion and complement of them all; and though each of th [...] was sufficiently sad and dismall, and required great abilitie [...] Faith to oppose them; yet all of them were short of this, [...] in time, and seeming tyranny; it would have put any M [...] Faith but Abrahams to a stand or a losse. It was a hard [...] ­ [...]ence to be Exiled; to fly into Egypt for maintenance; to [...] his Sarah with the hazard of his life; to engage in a W [...] against foure Kings, upon Lets score; to Marry his Mayde [...] cause of the Barrennesse of his Wife; to part with her w [...] great with Childe; to be Circumcised in his old Age; to [...] Sarah, and receive an order [...] the ejection and reprobation [...] Ishmael. But all these seem to be humane and moderate, [...] comparison of this which exacts such rigorous, inhumane, [...] prodigious undertakings; yet his Faith enformed him, the (erudelitas hac est summum pieta [...] genus) God hath enjoy [...] and required this Offering from him, and consequently prev [...] ­led with him to enter upon the Enterprize: For, By Eaith, wh [...] Abraham was tryed, be Offered, &c.

The first Part.

The Record is famously knowne, you will finde it filed, G [...] 22.1. the Words are plaine and cleare, without any ambi­guity, [Page 103]guilty, unlesse we semple at the Word, (tryed; when he was try­ [...]) [...], which signifies, tempted; and is so used by Saint [...]mes 1.13. and a direct contradiction seemeth to be be­wixt this, when he was tempted of God, and this other enun­ation, God tempts none. But to avoyd the repugnancy, and feare the ambiguity of the word: We must observe, there is a [...]o-fold tryall or temptation, according to Saint Augustine Act. 43. in Evang. Ioh. Ʋna qua decipit, altera, qua probat; [...] the first confideration, the Devill onely is the tempter; our [...]ne flesh is a traytor or conspirator under this tyrant, to de­ [...]er us up into his temptations, or perswade us to embrace [...]em. God is said to tempt onely in the second sense; he will [...]e our parts and sufficiencies examined and proved, so Lyra [...]d Aquinas And these is a vast difference betwixt these con­ [...]distinguished temptations, as in many respects, so principally these: For an evill temptation, is actus or motus quidem natus cleuare ad [...]llicetum; Its a solicitation and seduction into sin, [...] the subversion of our Faith: The other is onely actus proba­ [...]us; an experiment, probation, or discovery of what strength [...]e have, to resist the temptations and motions of sinne and [...]tan; what sufficiency we have acquired in our Christian profession; Deut. 13.3. Exod. 16.4. and its a great deale [...]re noble to master a temptation, then to be freed of it; [...] overcome it, then not to be subject unto it; so Lombard. [...] 2. dist. 23. Gloriosius, est non consentire quam tentari non [...]se: and so the Devill tempts us, to destroy and ruine us, John [...] 10.12. 1 Thes 3.5. God suffereth us to be tempted, and its us to the test, for our good, that in the evill day we may be [...]e to stand, Rev. 3.10. sometimes for our humiliation, either a prayse him for what we have received, or to beg of him [...]hat we lacke, or to burne out the drosse, till it be pure, and to [...]ke away all tinne. Isay 1.25. sometimes for our exaltation, to waken us from a swoun, by a box on the Eare, and glory in [...] grace which is sufficient for us: sometimes for the advan­tages of others, for their imitation, if we hold out and stand [...] in the Faith; for their caution (if we fall or faint) and com­passion. Gal. 6.1. and sometimes to stop the Devils mouth, and [...] found him in his wisedome and projects, Job. 1.9. But the [Page 104]same Augustine in the fore mentioned place, opens this po [...] more fully yet: Sed quomodo tentet, ut sciat, quem latere [...] potest, untequam tentet, ut sciat (hoc est) ut scire not faciat, [...] latebat se, sed non Deum; admesit, vero te [...]tatorem, & s [...] enm sui cognitorem; and so he expounds it, lib. 4. de Gen. lit. cap. 9. and lib. Serm. de Temp. Serm. 72. his tryals are [...] to gaine himselfe knowledge, or experience of our present [...] or after purposes (he knoweth our thoughts after off, even [...] before they be thought; all the recesses, the windings and do­lings of our deceitfull hearts, are open to his eyes, he fore [...] all our desires, depths, and drifts, and can, if he please, disco [...] them, before they be contrived) but for a discovery and [...] ­dence to us, that we may know what is within us, whether [...] be sincere Peniterts, or handsome Hypocrites; whether [...] hearts be sound, or rotten and false. And though God said, [...] 22.12. Now I know that thou fearest God, &c. yet this i [...] [...] to be understood, as if God had not before knowne what [...] would prove to; but it is, humanitus dictum, as if he sh [...] have said, Now by this Act of singular Faith and Obedie [...] thou hast given so evident an evidence of thy Faith, that [...] I been ignorant thereof. now I should have known it, th [...] needs no further disquisition nor other discovery, or experim [...] but this, thou at my command, Offered Isaac.

But what, Doth the Eternall Lawgiver give orders for [...] breach of his own Eternall Decrees? Doth he command [...] ther, contrary to his own Commandement, to Kill his Son [...] become a Parricide; or how can this Precept be reconci [...] either with Gods goodnesse, or Abrahams inhocency?

Certainly this fact of Abrahaus, was not directly against [...] positive or naturall Law of God; for howsoever not to Kill, [...] a Morrall Institution; yet in as much as God hath an absol [...] unlimited, (and I may further adde) an Arbitrary Power, or [...] the Lives and Estates of his Creatures, whatsoever he ordere [...] concerning them, is most holy, and just, because his Will is [...] adaequate Rule of all Justice. It is true, God doth not alway [...] make use of his Prerogative, as in the event he did not [...] Abraham; but doe it he may, if he will, and we must not d [...] to murmure or repine, but conforme and will what he will [...] [Page 105] [...] Augustine Epist. 65. Necesse est, ut volumus, quod ille vult, [...]ujus voluntatis nec exce [...]ent [...] fas est recusare; nec omnipo­ [...]entiam licet evitare. God is above all Law, and doth-hinde or [...]ose the hands of Men at his pleasure; and to doe what God commands cannot be against nature [...]eing he is the God of nature, and Author of it: neither is it a fact against his Com­mandement; because in this case, Man is but the Executio­ner and Officer of his Law; and so it is not in strictnesse Mans Act, but Gods; and therefore most just. Thus God hath [...]rohibited Murder, and so strictly tyes us to its observance, that unlesse we have competent and lawfull authority or calling thereunto, or expresse commandement from God for it, we are unnaturall violators of this Law of God: But if we have a Precept or Authority from him, we transgresse not, for he hath jus vitae, & necis: he may dispose of our lives and fortunes, as he pleaseth. And so the Levites Exod 32.27.18 had no Legall Power over the Persons of their Brethren: but being designed by speciall order from God himselfe for this worke, they had full Commission for what they did: and so, if the Israelites of their owne heads, or score, had spoyled the Egyptians, they had been Felons; but because they had a lawfull Authority com­manding them, they are quit by all Law, both from Usurpation and Felony And the reason of this is, because that howsoever the Law be Eternall in the sanction, yet it is variable in the instan­ces thereof, and particular determinations; as to Murder is against the Law: but when a Man is to be accounted a Mur­derer, the Law expresses not Abraham then having Authority to doe this Fact, doth not trans [...]resse the Law; which if he should attempt, or but project the like, or farre lesse in the same kind without the same, or sufficient order, we are no­torious Delinquents and Malesactors. The generall, ordinary, and perpetuall obligations of the Law, is the rule of our acti­ons and obedience: The extraordinary, particular, and personall temporary instances, are not to be drawne into consequences, nor imitation. Abrahams Faith was then reselved into these Principles.

• 1. We are absolutely and indispensably without all demur [Page 106]or counterplea, without all haesitation or tergiversation to obey God in all things.
• 2. Gods Will and Soveraigne Authority, is the most exac [...] and proper rule of Justice.
• 3. God is most good, and most wise, and therefore com­mands nothing irreconcileable and inconsistent with his good­nesse and wisedome.
• 4. To Kill a Son without expresse warrant, is contrary t [...] duty; but to offer him to God, when God Calls, is both Obe­dience and Sacrifice: and with such Obedientiall Sacrifices Go [...] is well pleased. Adde to all this, God commanded not th [...] Act for it selfe, (that is) he did not command it to be do [...] with an intention and purpose that it should be done; but one­ly to prove Abraham, whether he would doe it or no, upon Go [...] order: And therefore we Reade. That though it was not do [...] yet God takes his Order to be fully satisfied, and exactly obeye [...] and counts it as done, (for Gods designe took place, and the [...] ­timate end of it was perfected) for that he Obeyed his Voy [...] Gen. 22.16.18. And though Isaac was never hitherto an Ho­locaust; yet in the Text, he is said expressely to be Offered: [...] Offered Isaac; His attempt is valued from an acceptable Sa­crifice

But further you may demand, How comes Isaac to be Abra­hams onely Sonne? Was not he a Father to Ishmael?

Yet his onely Sonne he was, (though before him he had Ish­mael. and after diverse Children by Keturah) for these respect.

• 1. In reference to the expulsion of Ishmael, the Sonne [...] the Bond-woman, who was outed of his Family by a Decre [...] from Heaven.
• 2. In reference to his Wife Sarah; she onely had Isaac, an [...] because she had no more, he onely is accounted the Legall He [...] to Abraham: and this makes an onely Sonne.
• 3. In reference to his affection, and tendernesse over him [...] his delight and his onely hope, who was a long time expected and desired; and, at last, got by a Myracle, in his Fathers and Mothers old age. And so further to
• 4. In reference to the Promise, whereof Isaac was the Sub­ject: as is expressed here in the Text. And
• [Page 107]5. In reference to the Line and Posterity of Abraham: For in Isaac shall thy Seed be Called. And thus much for the [...]learing of the Words: now followes the

Second Part

1. When he was tryed. Many times he had been tryed be­ [...]ore, but God will have him further sisted: he puts his Chil­dren upon severall tryalls, as in a troubled Seasone billow falls [...]n the neck of another: So in this enraged World of wicked­nesse, one affliction follows close at the heeles of another; and we are no sooner freed from Egypt but Pharaoh parsues us. Our life is of few dayes but those full of trouble, Job 14.1. [...]very day hath his trouble, his evill, Sufficient unto the Day is [...]he evill thereof, Mat 6 34 Our life is a warfare a restlesse em­ployment, a time of conflict: after one skirmish is over, we must prepare for another. David out of the Mouth of the [...]ion, and the Paw of the Beare, falls into the hands of Goliah; [...]nd after, under Sauls rage and tyranny; and at last a Rebellion was hatched against him by his owne Son and his Counsellor, Absalom and Achitophell. But why, after so many and great assurances of fidelity and loyalty, should God yet require fur­ther Evidence? Certainely, where God hath bestowed eminent Graces, he will have them eminently conspicuous; where he conferreth great assistances of habets, he exacts proportionable [...]yalls thereof. Job, upright above all Men in the East, and there­fore that his Faith may be more glorious, he must of all others [...]e most put at. God gave Moses an exceeding great Spirit, and [...]e therefore is to sustaine the barden of Israel. God will not [...]ave his Graces idle in us, but according to our abilities and strength exercised and employed.

But here is more in these Words, When he was tryed, as if [...]e had never been tryed heretofore: 'Tis true, he had undergone severall tryalls, and those sharpe ones too; but yet, none of them [...]n respect of this, could merit the name; the Holy Spirit (as it [...]ll the others were nothing) bestowes the denomination on this. Ordinarily, every man in the progresse of his life, meets with some one remarkeable accident, danger, or affliction, which above all others he may call his tryall: Every day a man liveth, [...] an evill day; Few and evill have the dayes of the yeares of [Page 108]my life been, &c. Gen. 47.9. yet a Man shall light one more notable, an evill day indeed, which for its malignity farre surpasseth all others, and is therefore called Ephes. 6.13. [...], the Evill Day. A professed Souldier, in his ex­perience, may tell you severall conflicts and skirmishes; but no [...] above two or three set battailes in full bodies in his life time.

2. Abraham was tryed; so was Job, an upright man. Da­vid, a man after Gods owne heart. Judgement begins at the house of God; the fiery tryall can be no strange thing to God. Children, when as his owne shall be sure to passe and endure it; strangers are onely excepted: Let none pretend to an ex­emption or protection from the usuall contingencies, which i [...] all ages have attended Gods separated servants, Calamities an [...] temporall Troubles, Afflictions and tryals; for its necessary their should happen, that those which are approved, might be made manifest; as the Apostle in another, though not altogether un­like case, 1 Cor. 11.19. that our Faith may appeare precious like gold, and be found to the prayse &c. 1 Peter 1.7.

3. Abraham was tryed: Probably Sarah knew nothing of i [...] and so no mention of her tryall or faith in this instance; Gr [...] who knoweth our frame, remembreth the d [...]st, considereth [...] gold; he dispenseth his afflictions, according to the abilities [...] his people; he spares Sarah for her weakenesse, lest the severing of the tryall may bafle her Faith; he layes the whole burden [...] Abraham, because strong in Faith, able to beare it; he know [...] every vessels bearing, and will not oppresse, or overloade them lest they sinke or founder, before they be harboured; what he will not lay on some. he chargeth home on others: This is m [...] undoubted, he will not suffer any to be tempted above what they are able, 1 Cor. 10.13. and that he disposeth of all thing [...] most wisely, for the advancement of his glory, and the eternall advantages of his creature.

4. Abraham Offered: Thus it is said, though he did but en­terprize and attempt it; he did Offer what was commanded in­tentionally, though not in the execution and event; God ac­cepted it as done, because he seriously resolved to doe it, an [...] ofttimes rewardeth the will for the deed. He who will not al­low of a good intention in a bad action, both condemnes a [...] [Page 109]evill thought, (Adultery in the Heart, a Lust, and desire of sin) and approves a good motion, a sincere intention, and purpose of mind, without any subsequent act, we are good enough, if our obedience be but sincere. In magnis & voinisse sat est: For God is so good, that if there be a willing mind, it is ac­cepted as the Apostle in another case; but it holds, and is the same in all, 2 Cor. 8.12.

5. Abraham Offered; that is, as its expressed Gen. 22.16.18. If obedience be not in all cases, certainly in the most, it is bet­ter then Sacrifice; for Sacrificing separated from Obedience, is the Sacrifice of Fooles, of Hypocrites; but Obedience is alwayes a good and acceptable Sacrifice: Qui innocentiam celit, Deo sup­plicat, Minut. Faelix. He hath shewed thee, O Man, what is good, &c. Micah 6 8. And this is the direct, proper emanati­on, the highest and plainest evidence of Faith; and therefore is called, The Obedience of Faith, Rom. 1.5. & 16.26. And in Saint John Baptists Divinity, the Beleever, and the Disobedi­ent are the two termes of opposition and distinction, [...], and [...], Iohn 3.36. The best way to try our Faith then, is to enquire and look after our Obedience; if we doe the Com­mandements, adorne our Faith with an answerable conversa­tion; if our respects to Gods Call be entire, regular and con­stant.

6. Abraham Offered, because God commanded; we are also to surrender our Children to God that gave them, when he sends his Apparator, Death, to Summon them; and that by way of Offering, freely and ch [...]arefully: So Origine Hom. 8. Exhorts, Laetus [...]ffer Falium Deo, esto Sacerdos animae ejus. Abraham did more, he himsefe bound his Sonne and bent his Sword to slay him. But now the affections of Parents are so cemented to Clay, that rather then they will Offer, they will perswade their Sons to offer to s [...]r [...]nge gods, strange inventions, if they be but new; but if Children are to be Offered, then they are to blame who strive to reserve them, when called for; and they are called for, when we have used all lawfull meanes for their preservation, but the event followed not. Then to blame are they, who onely endeavour for a great Estate for their Sonnes, but ne­ver Offer them to God, respect not what Religion, rather [Page 110]what fancy, humour, designe, wickednesse they follow and ad­here to.

7. He Offered Isaac, the Promised Seed, his onely begot­ten Sonne, of whom it was said, that in Isaac, &c. Faith en­joynes Sacrificing; and the obligations of Nature, directs us to offer to God; but both Nature and Religion, prohibites th [...] offering of a Sonne; much more, to make an Holocaust of him that was, first to Kill him and then to turne him into Ashes [...] and especially, if an onely beloved Sonne, a Sonne in whom a [...] found all endearements, tendernesses, and sweetnesses. Th [...] Apostle reduceth all to these two pleas and restraints, Of Na­ture, and Religion. Of Nature, That he was his onely Son, an [...] therefore it was a great condiscention of Faith, to submit to th [...] order, therefore it was a point of extream difficulty to captiva [...] his reason to the obedience of Faith. Of Religion, He was th [...] Promised Seed, and therefore it was a most execrable Act an [...] wretchednesse to destroy him, by whom Salvation should co [...] into the World. But against this, he opposeth Gods Omnipo­tency, Truth, Goodnesse, Wisedome; and his Faith taught him to Prophesie, God will provide, &c. Gen. 22 8.

1. Then let us heare the pretences of Nature. It were al­most needlesse to discourse of the strong affections of Parent towards their Issue; they are better known then expressed, an [...] seance to be known by any, but him who is a Parent. Eve [...] Brutes have an instinct to nourish, provide for, and protect their young ones; we have heard but of few (and those few are signa [...] are branded with markes of dishonour to all Posterity, as Her [...] and Antiochus) who yet hath forfeited their naturall affection, though some there are, as the Apostle notes. Rom. 1.31. 2 Tim. 3.3. who are [...] but these are unnaturall Monsters: For the propensions of Nature, as to desire, so to love their Posterity, are ordinarily strong and violent; no man never yet hated his own flesh, and Children are partes parentis, Flesh of their Flesh [...] and very often are intensivè, with greater degrees of affection beloved by them, then themselves, though they be no dutifull Children; witnesse the repeated expressions of love in David for Absalom, O my Sonne Absalom, my Sonne, my Sonne Absa­lom, would God I had dyed for thee, O Absalom, my Sonne, my [Page 111]Senne, 2 Sam 18.33. And that sad complaint of Jacob, If ye take this also from me, and mischiefe befall him, &c. Gen. 44.29. And there are reasons in nature, as well as experience, to con­firme this; for there is an impresse and desire of nature in every man to perpetuate, and out-li [...]e himselfe in his Issue; and for this Reason Phylosophers tells us, that love rather descends then ascends: Children love not their Parents so hotly, as Parents doe their Children, because the Patents survive in their Children, and their Children (downeward; still) in their Chil­dren: And which is yet more, Children are reflections and per­spectives of their Parents, they are the Parents themselves, but more visibly, and therefore more lovely and amiably. And this was Abrahams case, he was a tender Father, he beheld much lovelinesse in Isaac, and his onely hope of surviving after his Funerals, was in him. Yet this was not all, he was not onely his beloved, but was also his onely Sonne; an onely Son hedgeth [...]n and encloseth all his Patents Bowels; where there are many, there is a distribution of them, and each takes his share and Por­tion; even as that Fountain, which sends its Streames into dif­ferent Rivelers, never increaseth into a great River, being spent in narrower receptacles; and the losse of an onely Sonne, is [...]he losse of our life and hopes, which hardly admits of any sug­gestions or perswasions of comfort. Rachel Weeping for her Children, would not be comforted, &c. Jer. 31.15. And the holy Spirit, when he would expresse the violence and distemperature of this Passion of Griefe, and the bitternesse of the Grieved, Phtaseth it, a Mourning for an onely Son; Make thee Mourning as for an onely Sonne, most bitter lamentation, Jer. 6.26. which expression is also used, Amos 8.10. And yet there is another incentive of his affection; In Isaac all the degrees of love were not onely united and concentred, but were strongly rooted and unalterably setled by his long conversation with him. For now if we beleeve Ioseplias, Isaac was five and twenty yeares old; and its usually observed, that as Children grow in accomplishments and yeares, so our loves are fixed and radicated: And Abraham had reason to be so, for Isaac was a rarely accomplished Per­son, with all the ornaments of Nature and Grace: so that his Faith and Obedience, hath by some been parallelled, and by [Page 112]others preferred to Abrahams: And it is by many disputed whether Abrahams Obedience, or Isaacs Patience deserved [...] higher repute. Adde unto all these that the Death of an one [...] Sonne, whether by diseases or violence is a tragic [...]ll thought [...] the Parent; but then for the Father to Kill him and he wh [...] gave him life, to be his E [...]eentioner, seems to be not onely against reason, and the affections of natures; but also direct [...] against the Precepts of Religion, and dietates of Piety: And therefore

2. Let us observe what Arguments, Religion might fra [...] to prejudice the designe, what Apology Abraham might dra [...] from Divine Oracles, to deny the Fact. For in him, Abraham did not onely destroy an onely. Sonne, but all Mankind; for [...] his hopes of a Posterity, so the hope of the Gentiles, and [...] glory of the People Israel were sounded in the Person of Is [...] For In eius persina perire videbatur, tota mu [...]do salus, as C [...] ­vin: It seemed at once to frustrate all the Promises, and [...] anticipate the Salvation of the World; nay further, it seem [...] contradict not onely Gods goodnesse, but his will; For he w [...] ­leth not the Death of a sinner; neither doth he so much as p [...] ­mit or allow one man to take the life of another: he that [...] is a Murderer, a transgressor of the Divine Will revealed [...] Scripture, and a most proportionable just Punishment, is th [...] ­ned and commanded: He that sheddith Mans Blood by M [...] shall his Blood he shed: Much lesse doth he approve of Human Sacrifices. The Devill indeed is a Lyar, and a Murtherer [...] the Beginning, he delights in Blood; and those are his best [...] wants, and fittest agents, whose feet are swift to shed Blood [...] it is his delight to have our Sonnes and Daughters offered to his and so at once it seems directly to thwart and oppose all for­mer Laws, and to null and voyd all the Promises; to depri [...] Abraham of a Sonne and the World of Salvation; to cut [...] and c [...]shiere his hope of Posterity, and the World of restaurati­on, by the Promised Seed, the Messias, who was to be deriv [...] from Isaac.

These, and many more such Objections, would a carnall hea [...] have framed from these premised Apologies of Nature and Re­ligion; but Faith confutes all these, and whatsoever can be pr [...] ­tended [Page 113]by the definitive sentence of two universall and insalli­bly true Propositions. God is True. God is Just; and both Nature, (that is in this sense) right reason, and all Religion, will subscribe to the truth and evidence of both; for as it is the minimum quod sic of naturall Religion, to assent to this truth (that God is) which is so Universally acknowledged by all people, of all sorts; so, right reason will undeniably conclude, from that first principle of Nature and Religion; That what­soever God, (that all being) shall reveale, is most true; and whatsoever he shall command, is most just; and as therefore I cannot erre, while I beleeve nothing but what he hath asser­ted; so neither can I sinne, while I doe nothing but what he hath commanded. So that his Faith waved all the so mer ex­ceptions, and relyed onely on these two firme and rooted Principles, Gods Fidelity, and Justice. Where these two consi­derables are presented unto us.

1. The close adherence of Faith to its Object, and its ac­quiescence and complacency in that adherence; none of all those suggestions of carnality, nor any humane reasonings could remove his Faith from its hold, nor shake its resolutions; no violences could beate it from its rocke, (whatsoever flesh and blood can pretend to the contrary, his confidence and assurance is still the same) its fortresse and refuge; for to this was he dri­ven, and this he will keep and stand to; that God hath pro­mised, and that he will effectuate what he hath promised; and whatsoever seeming impossibilities are opposed, he can effect what he pleaseth; he can rayse Children to Abraham out of stones, and by death bring them to life, Psal. 46.1. &c. This was the substance of the three Childrens answer to Nebuchad­nezzar, Dan. 3.16.17. and the ground of Jobs resolution, Job 13.15.

2. The method which Faith useth to resist such temptations: it granteth all the premised considerations, but superaddes more weighty and considerable to be thought upon; it rejecteth no proposall of nature, no overture of reason; but by an over-ru­ling Power, maketh nature to resolve contrary to its own pro­pensions and reason; to reconcile what of it selfe it could not; advancing, but indeed bending, it to Divine Mysteries, and so [Page 114]doth not destroy Nature, but perfect it; doth not over thro [...] reason, but exalts it, and regulates both; for supposing the ex­cuses of nature good and binding, yet Faith sores high, an [...] views that which nature cannot see, and embraceth what sh [...] cannot comprehend, that though death deprive Isaac of a pre­sent being, yet that God who gave Power to dead Abraham t [...] beget, and dead Sarah to conceive him, hath as much power t [...] raise him from death, and returne him againe. No question h [...] grieved as for his onely Sonne, in the bitternesse of his Spirit and so nature had his worke, (for he was no Stoicall antipassio­nist) yet Faith (which indeed is its proper worke) comfort him, and assures him that God, according to his immutability and infallibility of his Promise, would not take him away for­ever, and so againe admitting the reasons enforced from Reli­gious premises, Faith resolves upon higher principles, Gods So­veraigne authority, his omnipotency, his Attributes of Power Wisedome, Justice, &c. as hath been declared; and forbidden us, either to dispute his commands, or distrust his attribute [...] Let Flesh and Blood Argue, If Isaac be sacrificed, the Promise are frustrated; Faith denies the consequence, and is affirmative [...] God is not tyed to this or that way for the performance of hi [...] Promise; that his wayes are above our wayes, his thoughts abov [...] our thoughts, as the Heaven is higher then the Earth: And thus Abraham beleeved, for he considered (his Faith was [...] rash praesumptuous fancy, but a sober and advised meditation [...] that God was able, &c. It is the wise mans advice and counsel [...] In time of prosperity rejoyce, in time of adversity consider, Eccle [...] 7.16. consider Gods Almighty greatnesse, infinite wisedome [...] absolute power, inexpressable goodnesse and undisputable truth [...] and thou shalt never fall; thou mayest be tossed; but shalt no [...] sinke; thou mayest be shaken, but not removed; thou mayest be afflicted yet not in distresse. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast downe but not destroyed, 2 Cor. 4.8.9. this was the con­fidence and reliefe of Saint Pauls sadnesses and afflictions, Eve [...] to trust in God, which raiseth the dead, who delivered us, &c. 2 Cor. 1.9.10. this was his perswasion, That neither life, nor death, nor Angels, &c. Rom. 8.38.39. O that we were wise to consider these excellencies, these resolutions, and understand the [Page 115]loving kindnesse of the Lord; that we would consider and re­member that he brought light out of darknesse, order out of confusion; all being from nothing, and he is the same God still in Power, in Wisedom, in Goodnesse; his Eare is not heavie, nor his hands shortned, unlesse our sins cause him to hide his face from us, that he will not heare. And lastly, consider Abra­ham to be like this your Father, in the resolutions and endea­vours of obedience both Active and Passive, Isay 51.1.2. Con­sider Abraham your Father, &c. and remember that God blessed and encreased him; he considered God was able, &c. and so he received, &c. which affords another Observation.

8. He received him. It is Gods mercies that we are not consumed, Lamt. 3.22. God gave him unto Abraham the se­cond time; he will alwayes have his Church to remaine; and though for a time she be over-clouded with Heresies, Persecuti­ons and Interests, yet Magna est Veritas, &c. the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against her, she will be most Christian in her most persecuted and afflicted condition; and many times God delivers her from her Persecutors, making her darkenesse to be [...]ight, and bringing againe the Captivity of Sion as in a Dreame. And as it fares with the Church, so with its severall Members, they are many times brought out of the deep Waters, and the stiffe mire, light springing up to them that are true of heart; as it is said, Light came to the Jewes, Ester 8.16. upon the disco­very and disappointment of Hamans cruelty.

9. Abraham offered his Sonne, and saved him; he received with an addition, a Lambe; and with a blessing, and assurance of blessing, In thy Seed, &c. to give to God what he demandeth, is a great act of justice, because he demands; we give him nothing but what is first his; and its the best policy, the surest way, both to preserve and improve his gift: we never offer any thing to God, but we are gainers by it, we receive either an hundreth sold for the present, or Eternall Life: Give our Persons, our Soules and Bodies to him, to serve and worship him in feare; and though upon that score the Soule be seperated, and the Bo­dy crucified, we shall receive both againe with inexpressible ad­vantages: give your substance and goods to the necessitated members of Christs body, and though we spend much this way, [Page 116]we shall save much more; decima & divet este, we shall gain [...] and raise an estate: He hath distributed, and given to the poore his righteousnesse remaineth, &c. that one was of improvement his horne shall be exalted with honour: that's a second way, both certain, Psal. 112.9. and so this kinde of distribution, is a way of provision for the future, and therefore called, a laying up a stake of a good foundation, 1 Tim. 6.19. a Treasury, a Ma­gazine

10. He received him in a figure, [...], though Faith received not the expected reward and effect which it apprehend­eth, as being inexpedient, either for the present, or future con­dition of the Beleever; yet it receives what God awards, the hope of the righteous shall not perish; and they that put their trust in him shall not be confounded: but many times before beliefe comes, we are at the last experience; the Altar is prepa­red, Isaac bound, and is layd upon it, and Abraham takes the knife in hand, ready to give the fatall stroke; but then, and [...] ­till then, not before, did the Angel step in for a rescue, an [...] dilivered Isaac from death, and so Abraham received him by [...] resemblance of the Resurrection: and thus Christ delivereth hi [...] Church, when overwhelmed with oppressors, reviveth her when she is in the dust, when she is but a company of dead men, ap­pointed as sheep to be slaine, and numbred for destruction; when she is dry bones, and her hopes cleane off, he will put breat [...] and life into them. These, and such like, are the similitude [...] o [...] parables which the holy Spirit useth to expresse the affliction and deliverance of his Church, Isay 26.19. Ezek. 37.5.6.7. &c.

And having gone thus far, I might a while stay on the mysti­call and parabolicall signification of those Texts; for so som [...] Interprets these words [he received him in a figure] that's in re­ference to Christ, whose Death and Resurrection were here pr [...] figured. And Augustine tells us, That this action of Abrahams was both factum, & prophetia. an History and a Prophesie; but I intend not to vary much from my resolved Method: and [...] for a conclusion, shall onely observe the two commendatory [...] of Abrahams Faith, which is noted to be

• 1. Obedientiall, working, acting Faith, be offered; and this was the working of the Faith, Iames 2.21. The former propo [...] [Page 117]salls and calls of God to Abraham, were for the tryalls of his [...]aith in that particular and instance, of beleeving his Promises: [...]ut this was a new tryall of his Faith in another expression and determination, even that of obedience to his commands. God sometimes tryeth our Faith by Promises of incredible things, whether then we will depend on him: sometimes by commands [...]f harsh unpleasant services or duties, whether we will sub­mit to him, and obey him: now when God puts us to it to evi­dence our Faith, either by patience, or obedience; if we doe not, we are not the sons of Abraham, not the friends of God. For true Faith will still approve it selfe so by faithfull actions, no temptations of the world, or the Devill, to the contrary, shall make us suspect or disbeleeve what he hath promised; no invi­tations of sin, or lust, shall lay us off from the practise of what [...]e commands: where fire is, there is heate and light; where [...]aith, there holinesse and obedience.
• 2. Rationall, it was not a rash precipitate, or temerarious de­ [...]gne, but a wise, sober, deliberate proceeding of his understand­ing, will, and affection; for all his spirituall faculties were im­ployed in this consideration of Faith, [...], he pondered [...]nd weighed with himselfe, secum perpendens in one Translation, [...]atiocinatus, in another; his understanding considered Gods Truth, Power, &c. and upon this concluded, That he could, and would performe his Promises; his will followed the dictates of his understanding, and resolved, it was good and just to be­ [...]eeve in God, and obey him; and then all his affections follow, with cheerefulnesse and readinesse, to act what the understanding proposed and proved, and the will adhered to as good: we finne [...]nd fall from one uncleannesse to another; we distrust God, and waste our selves with impatience and fretfulnesse of spirit; and all, because we are not wise, considering men, we advise not with, or hearken not to reason, but are wilfully deceived and se­duced by interest and passion, pride or prejudice, or some raging just in our wills and affections; that seeing we doe not see, and hearing, &c. It remains as a duty of Faith, to be considering, and serious, and sober in our obedience to God. Which that we may be, one act more of Faith and Obedience is yet behinde, and that is Prayer.

The third Part. The Prayer.

O Holy Father, the Father of the Spirits of all flesh, who re­quires of thy servants reasonable services; renew us in on [...] minds, that we prove what is that good, and acceptable, and per­fect will of God, that we may present our bodies a living Sacri­fice, holy and acceptable to God. Let no suggestions of Satan, [...] seducements of the world be ever able to shake us, or make [...] falter in our beleife of thy Promises. Let no allurements of plea­sure, profit, or vaine-glory, make us to disobey thy Command [...] O thou the God of Abraham, who dignified him with those Ti­tles of, Father of the Faithfull, and Friend of God, bestow [...] such measure of grace, make our Faith so holy and obedientia [...] that we may shew and evidence our selves the Children of Abra­ham, doing the workes of Abraham, that so we may be accoun­ted also, the Friends of God. O let us sincerely and hearti [...] surrender our selves to Christ; firmely rely on all his promises especially those which concernes the eternall salvation of our im­mortall soules; faithfully obey whatsoever he hath commanded us and doe, act and move (whensoever he is pleased to try us) ac­cording to the Principles of our Faith, the Fundamentals of [...] Religion, Gods truth and justice, that we never dis-beleeve the formen, or dis-obey the latter; and that we constantly resolve, t [...] beleeve whatsoever he hath revealed, because he cannot lye; and to practise whatsoever he shall, or hath commanded: because h [...] is most just. To which onely wise God our Saviour, be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, now and for ever, Amen.

ISAACKS Prophesie.

ISaac followes his Father in the Catalogue, Sequitur (que) patrem non passibus aquis, his Elogies are not so high, nor so nume­rous, as the reports were of his Fathers faith; yet what is recited of him is truely Patriarchall, and belongeth to him, both as the Successor of the Promise, and as the next immediate Heire both of his Fathers Possessions and Honours: he was the first in the entaile, and what was setled on him, he transmits and passeth over to Jacob and Esun: to Jacob (as his next suc­cessor in the federall blessing, In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed) he bequeathes the prerogative of prime-geniture, being Heire of the Promise, Gen. 27.27.28.29. And to Esan, he consignes an estate or portion of temporalties, be­cause he had forfeited his Birthright, and his Title to it, Gen. 27.39.40. and both these he passed over to them by the Spirit of Prophesie, and the eye of Faith: For, by Faith Isaac, &c.

The first Part.

In this Discourse I shall discusse these following Quaries, wherein if I shall mistake, I shall leave every one to his in­differency of judgement.

1. How this benediction of Isaac could be an act or emana­tion of Faith, which was procured by fraud and subtilty, and was granted besides and contrary to the intention of the de­misor.

The Solution of this Quaere may be thus given, Isaac by faith apprehended the certainty and truth of this prediction, (for he was [Page 120]firmely perswaded, that the contents of his Prophesie should [...] fulfilled) onely he mistook in one single circumstance of [...] Person concerning which it should be verified; and so thou [...] he knew not Jacob was the subject of the blessing (and so d [...] signed by God the chiefe donor) or at least (which in effect [...] all one) did not remember or observe it; yet assured he was, th [...] that blessing so conferred, could not faile but should stand again all opposition, and hold firme and legall to all intents and pu [...] poses; and therefore he was positive and peremptory. I [...] blessed him, yea and he shall be blessed, Gen. 27.33. and th [...] very affirmation is to me a ground of conjecture, that Is [...] now saw the error of his first thoughts and was satisfied th [...] thus it was to be, and thus it should, or ought to be, as [...] now he had stated it; and that Isaac was now taught by a sp [...] ciall instinct from God, which Divines conclude from these cir­cumstances; 1. Isaac for his over-affection to Esau is correct [...] by blindnesse and so prepared to see and correct his error. 2 [...] longed for Venison, and would not passe it till he had the Ve [...] son, which he might have done without any such delatory co [...] dition. 3. That notwithstanding his frequent use of Veniso [...] he was deceived with Kids flesh. 4. That though he perceiv [...] him to be Jacob by his Voyce, yet he blessed him. 5. That Es [...] all the time the businesse was transacted at home, was sent abro [...] And lastly, that after all this, though he complained of the fra [...] yet he confirmed and ratified the promised blessing to l [...] But if it be further demanded, how Isaac could mistake or ignorant of the Person to be blessed, inasmuch as from Hea [...] he was ascertained that Rebekah had two great Nations in [...] wombe, but the greater should serve the lesser; the answer m [...] be, 1. That that Prophesie was not so cleare, as that he could [...] derstand it without the assistance of a further Revelation. 2. [...] strong affection to Esau did possibly obliterate it, which cou [...] not admit of any jealousie against him; for usually the fir [...] borne, as they have the start and advantage to gaine our [...] and therefore most ardent affections, so they retaine and ho [...] what by this Priviledge is indulged them: and the reason [...] this may be, because that naturall, propension generare [...] simile, in some sort is satisfied at the Nativity of the Fir [...] [Page 121]borne, who are the first representations of our selves.

Now for the other member of the Quaere, the procurement of the blessing by fraud and forgery; this may much reflect upon Rebekahs credit, who by this fact seems to oppose a Divine Ordinance, to abuse her Husbands simplicity, and her Sonnes tendernesse; and not a little toucheth her favourite and confe­derate, Jacobs ingenuity and honesty; for though his former purchase from his Brother, gave him a Right and Title to the Inheritance, yet this way to get the Possession of it, was altoge­ther unwarrantable and sinfull: but it doth not at all concerne Isaacks faith, who was a meer Passive in the whole transaction; and therefore I shall not enter any further consideration of that Circumstance, but passe to the

2. Quaere, What kinde of Blessing this was which Isaac Pro­phesied of?

The answer is, This Blessing was not meerly Paternall; for even the Blessings of our Parents, having on them the impresses of Divine Authority, are of great importance: neither was in simply Sacerdotall, or Pastorall, as Melchisedek blessed Abra­ham, Gen. 14.19 as the Priests the People, Numb 6.23.24.25. as Christ his Apostles, Luke 24.50. but it was Propheticall too, God discovered these future contingencies to Isaac, and put these words in his mouth as infallible Oracles.

3. What are the advantages, priviledges and praeeminencies of Primogeniture? or wherein did this blessing consist?

The answer is, The right of Primogeniture conserred, 1. Go­vernment and Empire over the whole Family. Next, a double Portion. And lastly, the honour of Priest-hood.

4 When did Iacob attaine to these advantages?

For the first, Tis most certain Esau had the commanding power over Iacob for a long time; witnesse his frequent submissions and supplications unto him, Gen. 33. & 34. but it was fulfilled in Davids time, who totally subdued and subjected the Idume­ans to the Crowne of Iud [...]h, 2 Sam. 8.13.14.

For the second the double Portion, though Idumea was fer­tile, in comparison of many places; yet it was but a waste in respect of the Land of Canaan, Mal. 1.3.

For the third, The Honour of Priest-hood was proper and [Page 122]peculiar to Iacobs Posterity, even down to Christ, confirmed [...] us, Luke 1.32.33.

The second Part.

• 1. The best of men, are but men, full of spirituall weake­nesses and infirmities. Isaac was so passionately affectionate [...] towards Esau, that he could not observe, either his profanene [...] towards God, his disobedience to his Parents, his dissasection to his Brother, nor his roughnesse, cruelties, and incivilities to all men; his affection overswayed his reason, and what he had on [...] fancied, he still holds to. And thus it happens with the peevish [...] passionate Hereticks of all ages, men of perverse minds, weake superstitious Schismaticks, who have the unhappinesse still to be of the worst side, and they are the weakest defendants; th [...] take up their errors upon feares, or fancies, Magis opinione qua [...] re laborant, and then they begin to beleeve them, and after main­tain them with resolution & confidence, upon the first no ground [...] or reasons; They think so, because they think so; Beleeve so, be­cause they beleeve; and are resolved, because they are resolved these are in the list of those unreasonable men mentioned, 2 The [...] 3.2. on whom God hath sent [...], strong delusion [...] 2 Thes. 2.11. But Isaac's doting affection of Esau, was a mis­prison to Jacob; Esau is still liked, notwithstanding his inso­lencies and violences: Jacob is slighted for all his meeknesse o [...] spirit, and sweetnesse of nature; Esaus Venison shall better please his Father, then the sober and solid perfections of Jacob Many times Children are valued by their Parents, not for their deserts, but humors: and their vertues are not esteemed, but their activity and passions; so conceited are men, even in th [...] expresses of nature, so vaine and phantasticke are the motives of our elections and endearements: and yet not onely Isaac, but Rebekah also was faulty in this kinde; for howsoever Iacob's goodnesse and mildnesse of spirit was a good gound for the in­tention of her love, yet there was no reason she should endea­vour the dis-inheriting of her Elder Son, contrary to the Law of God and Nature. For, I suppose, Rebekah as little minded the Divine Oracle, as her Husband; inasmuch as the Scripture makes this the reason of her affection, that Iacob was a plaine man, and lived in Tents, was a comrade to her, and frequently [Page 123]conversed with her, (and conversation is the last concoction of love) which Esau did not, being alwayes abroad; and so this affection of her, was an effect of the same infirmity; it procee­ded not from any rationall solid cause, but from a conceited sensitive endearement: Yet her affection stayes not here, Daw uno absurde, sequuntur mille, it carries her on to a designe which would comply with and gratifie her passion; and now the plot is to advance her beloved Son, and out Esau of his Fathers bles­sing. And for this purpose, she contrives an artificiall lye, but notorious fallacy, Iacob must goe to his Father, now blinde, and therefore more apt to be deceived and pretend himselfe to be his First-borne Esau; that he had been a hunting for this de­lightfull Venison, which now he presented to him; and upon this account, he must demand the blessing of Primogeniture. When once passion rules us, and interest perswades us, how vio­lent and restlesse are we to satisfie our passions, and pursue our interests, without any respect to either humane or divine con­stitutions; Lawes then have no obligingnesse in them, and so strongly doe these carnalities carry us, that we stop not, till either we carry all before us, like a violent torrent; or runne our selves into mischieses as wilde beasts into a snare in the pursuance of their prey. But above all, this most plainely appears, in this plaine man Iacob, who for all his seeming simplicity, hath one tricke of Legerdemaine, he will act that part, which his Mother had given him to conne though he knew his part was none of the best, and her counsell stark naught: for that he supposed that this artifice deserved rather a curse, then a blessing, we may guesse from his own words, Gen. 27.12. but, qua data porta ruunt: Ahab is never quiet till he purchase Naboths Vine­yard, though the possession of it be death. And Iacob is easily perswaded by his Mother to follow the plot, because he liked it, and it made for him; and now her motions are most chearefully entertained and accepted, and observed. How often doth selfe-love betray us, and our temporall interests stifle and extinguish the proposals of Reason and Religion! How frequently doe car­nall men play fast and loose with God and their own Conscien­ces, when even good men are sometimes cheated and seduced into error and folly, by passion and interest! How slight, un­reasonable, [Page 124]and unjust suggestions will satisfie us, when once we give way to the flesh, and endeavour to satisfie it! O then, how observant and circumspect should we be, that no carnality or lust, blend or mix with our designes, that our undertakings be not policies for secular advantages, (there is alwayes somewhat of the [...] in them) but acts of Christian prudence, sim­plicity, and ingenuity. How constant and diligent should we be to search and try our wayes, to examine our hearts, our de­ceitfull hearts: and because these are sinnes in the best, Quoti­dianae incursionis, as Tertullian, of all sins of infirmitie, therefore we have need earnestly, every day to sollicite God in his Sonnes Words, And leade us not into temptation, but deliver us from [...] evill, Amen.
• 2. Here was a difference in judgement and choice, between these two, who were joyned together in Conjugall society, and professed and followed the same rode to Heaven; Isace preferred Esau; Rebekah, Jacob; yet such was their wisedome and mo­deration, that they permitted each to other the liberty of their judgements: neither did this difference any way hinder or pre­judice their offices of Piety, or mutuall obligations, or recipro­call duties of love: a fit Patterne for Parents, not to quarrell for trifles, not to separate upon minute considerations; a proper President for all Christians, that they hold the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace; when differences of opinion arise (as indeed when are there not?) concerning some lesser Truths of Religion, that is, if the opinions be in materia non revelata, or non necessaria; if the point be not revealed, or at least, not so clearely revealed, as to satisfie an honest teachable heart; if it be not in fundamentals, but in superstructures, these different perswasions being no way impious, and we being united in the maine, all the prime and vitall parts of Christianity, which re­lates to Faith and holy living, we are to communicate one with another, to be affectionately kinde one to another, and mutually endeare our selves in all Christian offices and duties; nothing, should debar us from a joynt performance of all Religious or Ci­vill duties, but what doth meritoriously and actually divorce and separate us from Christ, and as it were unchristian us, or render [...] Christian, either in our profession, or conversation.
• [Page 125]3. Isaac in his Prophetick Rapture, perceived the blessing was by God consigned for Jacob, and so accordingly devolved [...]he right on him, and acquiesced in Gods good pleasure, though contrary to his own propension and desire: we ought to suspend and silence our private and particular phancies, when God hath revealed the contrary; we are to renounce and deny our most [...]ardent and praevalent affections, when God hath otherwise de­clared the good pleasure of his will; I was dumbe (saith David, Psal. 39.9. and opened not my mouth, because thou didst it.
• 4. Though Isaac was indued with a Prophetique Spirit, yet [...]he knew not the time of his death; in generall onely he appre­hended, that his dissolution was approaching: God conceales [...]he determinate time of death, even from the Prophets them­selves; that no man may presume of long life: he would have as alwayes provided for Death, Ideò latet ultimus dies, ut obser­vetur omnis dies; therefore is the last day unknowne, that we may be in readinesse every day.
• 5. Isaac, that he might not be prevented by Death, fore­flowes no time, delayes not to performe his last fatherly Office, jo­blesse his Children; He blessed Jacob and Esau, this will serve for a seasonable Instruction for Parents, that whilest they live, they provide for, and blesse their Children; not to leave them to the disposall of a Feoffee in trust, or a deceitfull Guardian; and it concernes us all, even to doe good while we have opportunity, not to procrastinate our repentance, not to wave the duties of our Christian Calling, putting off the evill day; while we have [...]ight let us walke as the Children of light, for the night cem­meth wherein no man can worke, which is most excellently set forth by the Wife Man, Eccl. 12.1. to the 8.
• 6. Isaac blessed both Jacob and Esau: Paternall Benedicti­ons are of no small efficacy and importance; Its the Childrens duty to require them, its the Fathers to give them; For the Major domo, the Father of a Family, is the representative of God, the Father of the Spirits of all flesh. God ratifies, what [...]he doth in his name, and for that authority which he deriveth unto him. What the spirituall Fathers are in reserence to their [...]ure an pastorall charge, Embassadors for Christ &c. 2 Cor 5. [...]0. that Fathers are in their respective Families; and though [Page 126]they have not speciall watranty as Isaac had for the distribution of their blessings, yet have they grounds enough to render them effectuall; for they have this generall assurance from the Al­mighty Father, that he will be their God, and the God of their Seed, and are therefore sufficiently Commissioned for this [...] and purpose.
• 7. The Apostle placeth not these two blessed Persons accor­ding to their production, but according to Gods blessing or them; names not Esau before Iacob, though borne before him but Jacob before Esau, because he had translated the Birth-right to him. God is the Soveraigne and free dispenser of his bles­sings; he disposeth of them in such order. degree and mea­sure, as he thinks most suteable, and consequently to murmur and repine against Gods proceedings and dispensations, is both impiety and folly; if thy Brother, or Neighbour have a large portion then thou, know that God gave it him; and if tho [...] envyest or hatest him for it, thou art a Malignant indeed i [...] the most genuine and proper importance of the Word; thi [...] eye is evill, because God is good; and more then so, thou art a Foole too; for tell me, is it not reasonable and fitting for thee, in thine own judgement, to dispose of thine own as thou wilt, and is it not then unreasonable folly in thee to murmure and repine at God, because he useth his own liberty in the same kinde: It were far more Christian and prudentiall for thee [...] prayse God for what thou art or hasie; and though thou ha [...] not so much as others, yet what thou hast, thou hast received. Every good and perfect gift, &c. Iames 1.17. If thou hast no [...] Isaacs blessing, Dominion, Majesty, fulnesse of Bread, and abun­dance of Wine; yet if thou hast Esans Portion, the Dew of Heaven, and the fatnesse of the Earth: or at the worst, if thy condition be to live by thy sword; take that thine is, be conten­ted and thankefull. David had more hearty joy in his dime [...] ­sum, then they who had more abundance. Psal. 4.6.7.
• 8. Isaac imployed all his skill and industry (for he felt Ja­cobs Hands, and distinguished his Tongue) that he should no [...] be mistaken in the collation of his blessing: yet all shall no [...] prevaile against Gods decree, The counsell of the Lord that shall stand, Prov. 16.1.2.
• [Page 127]9. Jacob is preferred before Esau, the lesser is exalted above the greater; the time will be, when that worldly men, which ex­ercised Lordship, Arbitrary Tyrannicall Power, over the Belee­vers, shall themselves be brought under subjection, and the righ­teous shall have Domination, when their beauty shall consume away, Psal. 49.14. Apoc. 2.26.27. the Birth-right, with all its Pri­viledges, jurisdictions, and preheminences, shall be transmitted to them; they shall sit upon Thrones, judging the twelve Tribes, receive their double Portion in the Heavenly Canaan, and offer up spirituall sacrifices to that God who is their Portion and In­heritance unto all eternity.
• 10. Isaac saw these two great Nations ment by Iacob and Esau, flourishing in wealth and honour, not with his bodily eyes, for these were darkened, but by his spirituall eye; he fore­told the future conditions of both these People, not from their Starrs, but Revelation. By Faith Isaac blessed, &c. and so not by the positure and Scheame of the Heavens, but by a remon­strance from Heaven; the former was impossible, for both these, [...]hough most different both in dispositions and condition of life, [...]ad the same horoscope at their Birth; and because the Heavens are in a perpetuall motion, and there is some stay at all Births, a will be matter of extreame difficulty, if not impossibility to determine the certaine position of the Heavens at those Births; [...]o that this praediction was not from any Constellation, appea­ [...]earing at their Nativities; but from a Divine Oracle, declared before they were borne. And indeed, what reason is there in Philosophy, why every yeare, every day should not have as [...]rong influences as their Birth-day upon Men? or which way imaginable can these Astrologians prove the Heavenly Bodies [...]o exercise their Powers and Vertues? He that will be better sa­tisfied in this particular, let him reade Augustine, lib. 5. De Civit. Dei, cap. 3.4.5.
• Lastly, By Faith, &c. The eye of Faith doth, if not with as much clearenesse, yet as much certainty, apprehend future con­tingents, as the bodily eyes doe their sensible objects; not that [...]require a demonstrative knowledge of the articles of Faith, for his is an Appendix of the Manichean Heresie, which taught, [...]ihil amplius esse eredendum, quam quod evidenti ratione possit [Page 128]demonstrari, as Augustine observes lib. 1. de util. ered. but th [...] our assent be rationall, and built upon Morall certainties, [...] course and argument, a constant uninterupted tradition, tr [...] of miracles, word of Prophesie, the excellency sublimity a [...] reasonablenesse of its Doctrine, the fulnesse, satisfactorinesse, a [...] riches of its promises, the concordance and usefulnesse of [...] its articles; not that I conceive either, that every Beleever ha [...] this certainty and assurance of the Articles of his Faith, or th [...] promises of Grace; for although it be most certaine, that both the premised instances are certaine, and more sure then an [...] thing we touch or see, certitudine objecti, yet they are not [...] to us, certitudine subjecti; Its an error to suppose, that every Be­leever (or else he is no Beleever) must be advanced to such [...] degree of Faith, such a measure of assurance, such a strength o [...] adherence, as is found in the objects and habits of sen [...] an [...] science; even a little Faith, is true Faith, is saving Faith; [...] I entend this to be understood of strong Christians who by de­vout humble Prayer, and sincere obedience, have impet [...] the spirit of obsignation, and are confirmed in their mosst bo [...] Faith, by the blessed Spirit of God as a reward of their holy living, [...], &c. Colos. 22. and are brought [...], Heb. 6.1. by the spirit of wisedome and revelation Ephes 1.17. which is usually called a plerophory, or fulness of persuasion; and even in weaker vulgar Beleevers, Faith what­soever it be, though but like a graine of Mustard-seed, in s [...] ­genere, doth afford such a measure of assurance of future fel­cities, as that it both engageth obedience, and expecteth re­wards upon that stocke; it is alwayes not onely a subsistence, gi­ving a present being to future objects, giving them a being i [...] esse objectivo, Biel in 3. dist. 24. art. 2. but a demonstration [...] it renders the speranda, the objects of credibility, visibly and conspicuously subsistent; whatsoever object Faith apprehendeth whether past, present, or to come, it bringeth along with it not onely a bare subsistence, but according to the measure and degree a more or lesse evidence; Its the Prerogative of Faith, [...], as Chrysostome in Hom. 9. [...] Rom. to looke upon an assignement, as a position, upon an as­surance, as an actuall enjoyment, to give those things a being [Page 129]which yet in nature hath none, and so by consequence a certain­ly to the apprehensions of the soule; here our Saviour is posi­tive, He that drinketh my blood hath Eternall life, John 6.54. though its most certaine, he hath it not in full fruition, but one­ly in primitiis, the earnest of the Inheritance; and thus also he proves a present condition of happinesse, by a future medium, Happy are ye, &c. Luke 6 22.32. Why? for great is your re­ward; which way of argumentation were impertinent and fal­lacious, unlesse that Faith produced a praesubsistency of the ob­jects beleeved, brought remote and distant promises neere at hand, within our reach and embracement; Habet fides oculos [...]ibus quodammodo videt verum esse, quod nondum videt, August. Epist. 222. Blinde Isaac eying the promises saw two great States and Common-wealths founded in the Persons of Jacob and Esau, and fore-saw their warres, successes and the respective con­tingencies, which should happen unto them for many hundreds of yeares after his eyes were closed. The Israelites discovered a passage through the Red Sea and Wildernesse into Canaan. Ioh [...]aw a Redcemer from a dunghill. David out of the deep mire; a Protector. Abraham saw that day, which others desired to see; [...]ut could not, even before it was existent it was visible. And Saint Steven upon the Earth, among a crowde of miscreants, [...]aw the Heavens open, and the glory of God, and Iesus stand­ing at the right hand of God; and these fore-sights and disco­veries, made them confident, and patient, and their expectations of mercy assured and resigned; they were ascertained their hopes should not faile them, and therefore they waited, and were con­ [...]ented; For he that Beleeveth shall not make haste, Isay 28.16. he is quiet, and silent, and possesseth his soule with patience, till the times of refreshing come; and certaine it is, That he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry; the Phrase denotes se­curity, and contentation: he that Beleeves, is safe, and because he is safe, he is satisfied; For a confident man is contented to waite for that good, which his confidence expecteth and promi­seth; which is sufficiently proved by Davids answer to Abishai, 1 Sam. 26.9.10.11. but a suspitious man, whose mind is taken up with fears or jealousies, like a drowning man, is ready to catch [...] every probaility, and use every occasion that happens, or he [Page 130]fancies, will further his desires; a serupulons man, whose reason of his considence are either vaine in themselves, or indiscu [...] in himselfe, will be wavering and inconstant, though for the pre­sent he eagarly pursues what he enelines too. This may be ex [...] exemplified by two competitors, for one and the same office an [...] preserment; I suppose the one to have good grounds of his hope [...] the promise of the Patron or donor, or the prevalency of some active friend with him, and he is confident of the fidelity of the one, or the activity of the other, and thereupon takes time and leisure in his journey, toyles not his body, distracts not his mind in the pursuite therof; but the other hath only some slight acquain­tance with him, some pretences onely to his favour and bounty or hath onely this hope, that if he come first, possibly he may pro­vaile; neither hath he any friend, on which he dare rely, to ne­gotiate and meditate for him; therefore he Posts Night and Day stormes and frets at every obstacle, quarrels and fights with every shadow of opposition, and allowes himselfe no refreshment [...] ease, because his suspition and jealousie chafeth and chaseth hi [...] In this ease we may certainely resolve, he who made most ha [...] had the lesser hopes; and his haste was lesse, whose hopes [...] greater and surer: for he that hath a promise from a man [...] Power and faithfulnesse, whereof also he hath an undoub [...] assurance, is not too eager or over-vehement for the perfor­mance, but is willing to stay the time and pleasure of his friend neither is there amongst men any thing which makes them [...] forward for security or payment in contracts, but distrust a [...] dishonesty. And yet this Phrase is varied by the Apostle 1 P [...] 2.6. shall not be ashamed; he will not onely not make haste, [...] if the merey be delayed, he will not be ashamed; his Faith bene him out against all inward serupulosities, and outward igno [...] ­nies: if his own heart shall dictate, God is slacke, or if his ene­mies jeere and deride his confidence, yet he is still the same no reproaches shall haste or deject him, no carnalities seduct o [...] alter him; to be disappointed on his relyance and hopes, th [...] shames a man; but to be rooted in hope, is to gather considence and comfort; which David observed of himselfe, Psal. 27.1 [...].14. I should have sainted except I had beleeved to see the good­nesse of the Lord, &c. In three things, saith Bernard doe I pla [...] [Page 131] [...]ny confidence, and they are such, as will not suffer us to be asha­med; In charitate adoptionis, veritate promissionis, potestate reddi­tunis, for Gods goodnesse, truth, and power cannot faile them that trust in him, and wait for the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ.

The third Part. The Prayer.

MOst mercifull and gratious Father, most glorious and eternall Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob; blesse us thy Children by Adoption, with the Dew of Heaven, and Fat of the Earth, blesse and prosper unto us the workes of our hands, and sa­tisfie us early with thy mereies, that we may rejoyce and be glad in thy salvation; give us such a proportion of temporalties, as are most sutable to our dispositions and abilities, but they be no tempta­tions and provocations to sinne; and let the blessings of thy right hand descend plentifully upon us, thy heavenly and spirituall graces, that we may grow up and flourish in the house of the Lord. Be pleased to regulate and direct all our actions to thy glory, and our salvation; restraine all our passions and inordinate affections, and bring them under the dominion of grace. Blesse and sanctifie all thy blessings upon us, that we may improve them to thy Honour, and our own everlasting advantage, that we presse forward to the marke. For the price of the high calling of God in Iesus Christ: let thy promises of grace be the objects of our Faith, and let our Faith rest in them, that we be not confounded in the perillous time, and we may waite with patience till the Sun of Righteousnesse appeare with heal­ing in his wings: Raise up our thoughts from the consideration of the present pressures and threatned calamities which may happen us, to a contemplation of the love of God in Iesus Christ Adopting us, and promising good things to us, the truth, power, and faithfulnesse of God in performing the expressions of his love to us, and to a setled meditation of that Eternall Rest, those sure mercies and ho­nourable felicities, which the Father hath made over to us in his beloved Sonne, and which he hath assured unto us by the Revela­tion of his Spirit: To which holy, blessed, and undivided Trinity be ascribed, all Honour, Blessing, Praise, and Worship, now and for ever. Amen.

IACOBS Piety.

OMne bonum est sui diffusivum, Goodnesse is communi­cative of it selfe. And a very Heathen can resolve us. That Nullius boni sine socio jucunda est possessio, there i [...] no content in the possession of any goodnesse, unlesse we have a Partner with us; and every good man is of that temper and disposition, that he freely communicates what he hath received; if God blesse him, he is willing others should have some part or profit with him, and what he freely received, he freely gives; as for example, If God hath bestowed a Talent of Knowledge, Learning; Wealth and Authority, on any good Man, he will im­ploy it, teach others with his Learning, enflruct with Know­ledge, supply with his Wealth, releive and protect by his Au­thority; or if he doe not, he ceaseth to be a good Man, and these advantages cease to be good things and blessings to him. Abraham received a blessing from God, he bequeathes this to Isanc; Isaac leaves it to Jacob; and Jacob imparts it to the twelve Tribes; All these holy Patriarches succeeded one another in the blessings, here was Personall Succession, both in the Place and the Faith; they Lineally descended and succeeded one ano­ther both in the Chaire, as formerly the Elder Father still bles­sing the following; and in the donative of the blessing, and in the Worship and Service of God; Religion, it seems, then was heredetary, and these Patriarches came to the blessing by discent, and the Legitimate Children, were the Heires of the Promise, [Page 133]and therefore as by Faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esan, so by Faith Jacob blessed both the Sonnes of Joseph, By Faith Jacob when he was a dying, &c.

The first Part.

This benediction was the same which Isaac before imparted to Iacob, it was Paternall, Sacerdotall, and Propheticall: the subjects of it were the Sons of Ioseph, but with this difference, the whole blessing was enstated on Iacob by Isaac; whereas Iacob divided it to Iudah, Lovy, and the Sons of Ioseph; Reuben indeed was his eldest Sonne, the beginning of his strength, the excellency of dignity, and power, and so in an ordinary course it belon­ged to him; but he forfeited his Birth-right by desiling his Fathers Bed; and so his dignity was gone, Gen. 49.3.4. and so the jus Regni, the Kingly Dominion and Soveraignty over his Brethren, was setled on Iudah; the Honour and Office of Priest-hood was collated on Levis and the double Portion was allotted to the Sons of Ioseph, Ephraim and Manasseh; and the blessing on them was, That his Name should be named on them, and the Name of his Fathers. Abraham and Isaac, Gen. 48.16. that is, they should be reputed for his Children, for the Grand-children of Isaac, and great Grand-children of Abraham, and so the Heires of the Covenant of Promise; and they were a­dopted into the place of Reuben, 1 Chron. 5.1.2. or Levi. who was not to have any share into the Land of Canaan; and then there is another blessing annexed, That they may grow as Fish, into a multitude, into the middest of the Earth: and in­deed, accordingly they multiplyed in Egypt, into vast num­bers. For at the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt, there were of Manasseh. forty two thousand seven hundred: Of Ephraim, thirty two thousand five hundred; but all these, men of War, perished in the Wildernesse; yet at their entring into Canaan, there was found after a perfect Muster of E­phraim, forty thousand and five hundred; and of Manasseh, thirty two thousand and two hundred, Numb. 1.33.34.35. so that in the space of two hundred and fifteen years, there Issued from Ioseph seventy five thousand, or very neer that account: and so Ephraim was after so powerfull and considerable a Tribe, that oft-times the Scripture speaking of the defection of the [Page 134]ten Tribes from the house of David to Ieroboam, the whole t [...] are indefinitely called Ephraim; this Tribe being the principal contriver and abettor of that Rebellion, as Isay 7.2. Hos. 5.3.

But we have another Passage in these words, which deserve Vindication; they are taken out of Gen. 47.31. He worshippe [...] towards the Beds head; or as the last Translation, he bowe [...] himselfe upon the Beds head; and so Junius reades it, Incurva [...] se ad cervical lecti sui; and so others, incurvavit se ad cap [...] lectuli: but our Apostle follows the Septuagint, He worshipp [...] upon the top of his staffe, because that Translation was then [...] great authority in the Church; and the difference is not m [...] teriall, nor of consequence; for whether way soever it be re [...] dred, the sense is not much altered; and the Septuagint themselves Translated the Word here used in the Hebrew, a Bed, Gen. 48.2. so that they made not so great account of it. The dir [...] genuine sense of the words then will amount to this, That Iac [...] reared himselfe upon his pillow at his beds head, leaning also [...] his staffe, and so prayed unto, and praysed God. Indeed, the vu [...] gar Latine, contrary to this sense and the words themselves reades it, Adoravit fastigium virgae ejus, which yet by some [...] approved, though upon a designe to maintain religious adora [...] on to be due to the creatures; but that this is a corruption, appeares from the words themselves, for it leaves out the Proposition [...], which in the Accusative Case signifies super upon, all observed by Grammarians. And this is sufficient to invalida [...] the authenticalnesse of that Translation, and to discover the weakenesse of their Argument, and in part the falsenesse o [...] their Tenet, who would from this place conclude, The adorati­on of creatures, reliques, or images; and which is yet more, i [...] destroyes the pretended infallibility of the Church of Rom [...] which in the Councell of Trent hath declared the vulgar La­tine to be the authentique Text and Rule of Faith; for if defacto shee hath erred in this determiniation, then de jure, pos­sibly she may; and it is apparant shee hath erred, in appro­ving this Translation, which we have proved erroneous, and might further manifest from the Hebrew and Septuagint, but that the Bibles of the Doctors of Lovaine, themselves Romanists, hath saved us the labour, who reade it otherwise then [...] [Page 135]vulgar Latine, which (as I said) the Tridentine Councell Sess. 2. Can. 2. hath allowed for the authentique Interpretation.

The second Part.

1 Jacob, dying Iacob, tooke care before his death to blesse his Children, and took paines to worship God in as reverent and de­scent a posture, as his infirmity would allow. Gods Children all their life time, finde him a Father of mercy, and God of all con­solations, they receive many blessings and assistances from him; but at their death, he hath a most tender care and particular re­spect over them, that their Faith faile not, that the last enemy prevaile not against them, that dying they may be Conquerors; he perfects his strength in their weakenesse, and he acts most powerfully and vigorously in them, when their infirmities are strong upon them, their Faith conquers death, and the feare thereof, and him that hath the power of death the Devill, the outward man that is the living and animall saculties of Man, his vegetation and [...] are weakned and impayred by the usu­all harbingers of death bodily infirmities, and maladies; yet the inward man breathing and moving by spirituall principles, renewed with spirituall faculties of faith and sanctified reason, is perfected and compleated by them; ordinarily, blinde Men have the most apprehensive, tenacious, and faithfull memories, because they have not so many diversions to severall objects as seeing Men have; and so dying Beleevers have their soules fixed on God, sequestred from the world, and are altogether taken up with the contemplation of heavenly joy, and with holy exercises of Devotion and Piety and with earnest fervent Zeale and ve­hement desires to glorifie God, and to be glorified with him; to blesse God, and to be blessed by and with him eternally: but this comfort redounds not to all, it is onely peculiar to Christian Beleevers, whose conversation hath been heavenly; not to pre­sumptuous daring sinners, who walke after the flesh, and never seek to God, till they have not strength to serve sin and Satan, who never begin to live well, till they be a dying, and puts all off to a death bed Repentance, which is the most sad and mi­serable condition of all others; for it will be a worke of ex­treame difficulty, if not impossibility, for an habituated sinner, in that scantling and straite, heartily and sincerely to performe [Page 136]the duties and offices of Faith and Repentance, or seriously the settle himselfe unto them: for Omnis peccator peceat in su [...] ­aterno, Every such sinner, if he should live for ever, would sinner for ever; but the comfort and happinesse is for them, who in the preceding years of their life, in the dayes of their health and strength of their discourse and understanding, have followed the wayes of godlinesse, the foot-steps of Abraham; and when sid [...] or a dying, hath nothing to doe, but to exercise those grace which they formerly acquired, and perfect that Repentance which they early begun.

2. Both the Sonnes of Joseph; not nominating them unto us, but onely making them known to us by their relation to Jo­soph. Certainely the Apostles designe of the concealement o [...] their names, and expression of them by their Parentage, was for to put those Hebrews in mind both of the designe Iosephs Bre­thren had to sell him for a slave in Egypt, which was purposely to cut him off from Iacobs house, and deprive him of a blessing and his portion; and also of Gods Decree to the contrary, [...]h [...] though they devised mischiefe craftily against him, and drive their plot far, and did bring it in their sancies to their desired issne and period; yet he that sits in Heaven shall laugh them to scorne, and his determination shall stand in despight of their confederacies association, malice and policy, Ioseph shall re­ceive a Fathers blessing, and in his necrest relatives a share in the firsts borne Praerogative, a double portion: and thus the Apo­stle gaines by this insinuation upon these Hebrews his purpose, which was to perswade them to contentation and resignation of spirits: assuring them, that though for the present they were in a sad slavish condition, yet let them waite patiently on the Lord, and they shall see his salvation; they (though for the [...] this interim plundered of their estates, driven from all their houses, subjects to Tyrants) shall receive the blessing of the Lord, a double portion in the reall advantages and bequeathments of fulnesse, glory, and joy, whish no man shall take from them, Iohn 16.22. the expression is 'a tacite implication, That the Plundered, shall receive an Inheritance; the Banished, a Mansi­on; the Imprisoned, an Enlargement, and be set at Liberty; the Captivated, shall Reigne; the Mourners, shall Rejoyce; the [Page 137]Contemned and Despised, shall be Glorified; the Perhented, shall be blessed. But this is not all, the Apostle had a further drist, even to enforme and confirme them in that most certaine, and most frequently experimented truth; Perdam sapientiam, sapientum, God takes the crafty in the devices that he imagi­neth; he breaketh their snares, and turnes all the worldlings wisedom into foolishnesse; he, by his good Providence, blaffs all their designes, frustrates their policies, confounds their coun­selt, dissolves their covenants, dissipates their confederacies, ru­ines their endeavours, befooles their enterprizes and discovers their hypocrisies; they, as they laboured for the winde, so they shall reape the whirlewinde; he bringeth the devices of the ungodly to nothing; nothing takes, neither what they project for themselves, nor plot against others. God disappoints them, and the counsell of his will shall onely take effect; and in that order and method he hath praeordained, as may be further seen in these Sons of Ioseph. Iacob and Ioseph entended the prehemi­nence, the chiefe blessing, for Manasseh, God preferred Ephraim, and so directs and guides old Iacobs hands in this first Obser­vance of that Ceremony of Imposition of hands, for a solemnity of Benediction, that Ephraim hath the blessing of the right hand, the first blessing, and best Portion. But

2. The expression affords another observation, not indefi­nitely, or barely the Sons of Ioseph; but more particularly and distinctly, both, or rather each of them [...], though God beslow more and larger blessings of one then another, yet he is pleased that every one should have a share and part in them, all have not alike, every one hath his allowance, his dimensum, his Portion; a strong body requires more full dict, then weaker constitutions; so that if the weaker have lesse, it hath enough; and some Mens spirits are more vigorous, and able to coneoct a plentifull Estate, and convert it to good nourishment; men of weaker parts have lesse warmth to nourish, and a fulnesse to these is apt to make them surfet and diseased; and therefore, if these have as much as will keep them in temper, and preserve them in health, they have sufficient. If thy lot be not an Elder Bro­thers Inheritance, Ephraims blessing, thou hast enough, if thou canst be contented with a younger Brothers annuity, thou art [Page 138]more then a dependent in thy Fathers house, and hast Manasse [...] blessing, though lesse then the others yet great enough for thee. Are all Prophets? are all Apostles? can all be Patriarchs, chiefe [...] of Families, Lords of Inheritances, Rulers over People? Know this, that if thou hast not Power and Authority to guide and judge others, thou yet hast a competency, a subsistence, a Pri­viledge in the Israel of God, a Part and Portion in Canaan; If thou beest not as an Eye or hand in the mysticall body of Christ, yet thou his Flesh and his Blood; if not a glorious Pillar. or beautifull Perch in the Temple, yet a Living Stone; if thou art not Honourable, nor Rich, yet thou art healthfull, strong, pleasant; and perhaps if none of these, yet thou art satisfied; and that's the most valuable, and most to be desired blessing.

4. By Faith, &c. Notwithstanding Iacob possessed nothing in Canaan, but his Fathets Sepulchres; yet he divides and di­stributes it into Lots, as if it were in his power and absolute disposall; Faith assured him his division should stand good, and his Legacies in force, his last Will and Testament should be pro­ved, and what he had respectively bequeathed to each Tribe, they should actually Possesse and Enjoy. Thus the Apostles assertion is still proved, Faith is the subsistence, &c. the evidence, &c. verse the first of this Chapter.

5. Jacob having now blessed the Sons of Ioseph, his Faith moves and mounts higher, he is now setting himselfe in a posture to blesse God; he leaves the thoughts of Canaan, and turnes to God; He worshipped, &c. The Apostle tells us there is a coercive irresistable Power in love, The love of Christ constrameth us, 2 Cor 5 14. and such a holy violence and compulsion there was in Iacobs Faith, his Faith constrained him to reare up his disea­sed infirme body, and leaning upon the end of his Staffe, to Wor­ship that God who was both his feare and confidence; so strong were the actings of Faith on his spirit. That his souse must mag­nifie his Lord, and his spirit rejoyce in his Saviour, and his body must attend, accompany the soule, and joyne with it in the worship of God, the propension and forwardnesse of his spirit, raised up his dying body; such is the divine vertue of Faith that it erects, what is ready to fall; strengthens, what is like to faile; quickens, what is neer to dye. The ancient wiser sort of [Page 139]the Heathens (observing the high expressions, [...]ssene disco [...] writings and reasonings of dying men, when grosse and palpa­ble infirmities had seized on the body, and deprived the Or­gans and Instruments thereof of any activity or serviceableness [...] for those perfections) have hereupon concluded, the spiritual­nesse, and immateriality of the soule of Man, and by conse­quence, its immortality; for, Modus operands sequiter modena effendi; these operations of the soule are altogether independent of the matter, it contributes nothing to these actions, and so is its essence also; for if the soule were materiall, then the ope­rations of the soule. Discourse and Reasoning, should depend immediately upon the materiall Organs, it could not act with­out them; and also, if the Organs be enfeebled and the in­strument decayed and weakned, those operations should be im­perfect, weake, and, like the body, crasie; but this contradicts their own observation and experience, who had found more rare emanations of the soule in dying men, then when they were living, and a weakned body cannot move so strongly, or quickly, as when it was in its marrow and vigor. Hereupon Philoso­phers distinguish the actions of the soule into two orders; the former sort of actions it offects quâ forma, in the capacity of a forme to a materiall and sensitive body; and in this respect the soule can neither subsist, nor act without the matter, for here its supposed as forma informans, and its no longer a forme, then it doth informe, and so long all its operations follow the dispo­sition of the Organs, and qualifications of the bodily senses: The other kinde of actions it produceth quâ talis, or quâ ani­ma, considered abstractivè & absolutè, in a separated state from the body, as its an intellectuall substance; and in this notion, as its independent of the matter, deriving nothing from any power in it, so it can subsist without it, and performe its functions and offices, notwithstanding the imbicilities, indispositions, or distempered crazinesses of the body: But then, if the soule be illuminated, and guided by Faith, (which is an heavenly divine, and meerly spirituall principle) then the discourses and ratio­cinations, the emanations and operations of the soule, are tran­scendently excellent, though the body be dying, because of that supernaturall vertue, and spirituall life, which it receives from [Page 140]its [...] and efficient; this growes by the thines of [...] the Organs, and riseth by their setting; it gaines strength by the weaknesses of the body; perfection, by the infirmities of the flesh; vertue, by its decay; and more life by its death [...] and here (me thinks) as Philosophers esteemed most honourably of those Persons, who dying, discoursed most rationally; so we should judge, at least, charitably of those, who whatsoever formerly they have been, doe yet breathe out their last in pious ejaculations, raptures, or motions, or spend their dying minutes in addresses to God, or in unexpected expressions of repentance, devotion, and heavenly mindednesse, though I conceive, they proceed from the spirit of grace, and principle of Faith. But I digresse, and returne to the maine Observation: The motions of a sanctified beleeving soule, are so strong and powerfull, that as the first mover foreeth a regular motion from the inseriour heavens; so the soule enclines, and carries the body along with it in the performance of holy duties. The beleeves thinks it no [...] enough to worship God in spirit, with an elevated minde and devout soule; but he eonjoynes reveront and descent geflure of body: Even this dying Person, in a reverentiall habitude to Gods presence and Majesty, as far as his bodily infirmities would per­mit, used the worshipping posture. And it was the demeanor of the Saints of God in all ages, in their Addresses to Almighty God, to adore, that is to bow, or prostrate their bodies. These Patriarkes, if they stood upright, fell down upon the ground, be­fore they worshipped; if lying, as Jacob, they listed themselves up, and bowed: And in this Posture we finde David at and immediately before his Thanksgiving, 1 Kings 1.47.48. And our Saviour Christ himselfe was so civill, that he would not neg­lect his bodily service; so before he Prayed, he kneeled, Luke 22.41. or, he sell on his Face, Mat. 26.39. or, he lift up his Eyes, John 11.4. by some gesture of decency, reverence and sub­mission, he evidenced his devotion and humility: and the re­ceived rendring of the word, is promiscuously, either adorare, or inclinare so, or inourvare; to adore, to fall down, or to bow: and confermable hereunto, was the practise of the Primitive Christians, among the first addresse and application to God a [...] their entrance into the Church, as a Prologve to their after de­votions [Page 141]was this: Aute omnia adoremus Dominum qui faci [...] up [...] come let u [...] Worship, and fall down, and kneele before the [...]ord our maker: And so Davids connexion holds, Come into [...]n Coures; and then, O We ship him in the beauty of helinesse, Psal. 96.8.9. for then we come before the presence of the Lord, the presence of the Lord of the whole Earth. So that adoration is [...]n exhibition of reverence and honour, testified by some bodily gesture, as Bowing, Prostration, Kissing, Saluting or Uncove­ring, according to the custome of the Nation; which we may further prove from these following paralell Places of Scripture, where the expressions are Synonymae's, all importing the same sense; for Mat. 8.2. its [...], he worshipped him. Marke 1.40. its [...], he kneeled down to him, Luke 5.12. [...], he fell on his Face: and the like you shall finde, if you compare, Mat. 15.25. with Marke 7.25. Its true indeed that God hath not strictly tyed us to any certain Posture or set demeanor and forme of bodily worship; but in [...]hes [...], in the generall he requires, that they be decent, (let all things be done decently) not rude, or rustick; and decency is re­gulated by Custome, and those Customes which are Catholike, the Customes of the Church of God in all, or the confessed pu­ [...]er ages, are best; because as they are most conformable, and lesse under suspition of Schisme; so they most and best expresse our reverentiall feare of Gods sacred Majesty: and because they best evidence and help our inward Devotions, when they co-ope­rate with them: for as we know the goodnesse of Springs by their ebullition; so where there is faith and fervor within there will be expressions of humility without. Our Bodies are Gods, the Created and Redeemed them as well as our Sou [...]es, and glo­rifie him therefore in both: therefore God exacts a tribute of homage and service due from both; and as in Nature, the sepa­ration the one from the other is death, so in Grace it is sinne: and as the union is life; so it is Religion: for bodily worship, when set on the right Object, and attended with the sincerity and fervor of the soule, is one way of worshipping God in Spirit and Truth: for in this case the Body is but the Instrument animated and acting by the soule; and the action is no whit lesse spirituall, because the body is yoked with the soule in the [Page 142]imployment: but the antithesis, or opposition in the [...] Commandement, seems directly to prove this Observation, [...] according to the usuall Interpretation of the Commandem [...] domonstrates it; for if the negative part be (as certainly [...]) Thou shalt not worship, nor bow down to Idol false gods; the by the Rules of opposition, and the verdict of the received position, the affirmative will be, Thou shalt worship and down to the Lord our God; or as some Interpret by bo [...] down, thou shalt worship; and if this be concluding, and the be any obligingnesse in Law, we are bound to this service, [...] tute praecepti, by an expresse positive Law. And further yet, Family Duties, and Private Devotions, a bodily gesture of Re­verence and Comelinesse be admitted, approved, and practise why not rather at Publique Congregations? or why then shou [...] they be onely omitted, neglected, disallowed? unlesse that th [...] vulgar conceit hath taken men, that either little or no revere [...] is good enough for the house of God, and that place of all other ought to be sleighted: neither will that Text Iohn 4.23. [...] make any thing against this Observation. God (true it is) will worshipped in Spirit and Truth, that is, even to take the m [...] restrained Interpretation, he is a spirituall nature. and requ [...] spirituall service; but who denyes this? but yet, even this in [...] pretation, is to be understood fundamentally, not exclusively for the context will not endure any other sense, because [...] was a spirit from all eternity, and ever since the Creation, requi­red spirituall worship, even before that present houre spoken verse 23. and as spirituall worship was not then exclusive bodily worship, so neither are they incompatible, and incon [...] stent, since that houre came; or at this present houre now it, [...] man ever yet presumed that bodily worship was a duty, unless offered with a true heart; if it stood alone it was a meer mocke­ry, a perfect piece of hypocrisie; and therefore those words [...] not set in opposition to bodily worship, but (as to any obse [...] is evident from the context) to the appropriating of it to f [...] fingalar place, Jerusalem, or that Mountaine: now the time [...] that every City is, a Jerusalem; every Oratory, a Temple; eve [...] separated Place, a Mount Sion; and every Land, a lewry: [...] therefore he wills, as afterwards the Apostle, 1 Tim. 2.8. [...] [Page 143] [...]en pray every where, lifting up pure handt: and this is a bodily exercise or posture (which the Genevah note thus glosseth) as [...]estimonies of a pure heart and conscience: The naturall then. [...] single meaning of these words is this, God is to be worship­ [...]ed in spirit, that is, heartily and devoutly, and it excludes hy­pocrisie and indifferency: in truth, that is, elearely and solely, not by lying vanities, phantastick representations, false guises, such as the sacrificing in mans blood, and offering festivall lust [...] and uncleannesses in the solemne offices of Religion: to the former, the extreame is to worship God carelesly, and negli­gently, and so not in spirit. To the second, it is to mix impieties in Gods worship, to worship him with a lye, and so not in truth; this no way proves that when we adore, that's bow, we worship [...]t in spirit and truth; for even bodily worship is in this sense spirituall, if it arise from, accompany, and follow the devotion of the heart this is to glorifie God both in bodies and spirits, [...]or they are Gods: And so let us Pray.

The third Part.

O Most holy Father, God of infinite wercies, of tender and never failing conpassions, of great and unspeakeable goodnesse: We blesse, magnifie, and glo [...]fie thee; and blessed be God, even [...]he Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all [...]irituall blessings in high places in Christ; for that unwaluable [...]lessing in giving thy well-beloved Sonne to take our nature upon [...]im &c in and through him adopting us to be thy Sent, Heeres [...]f the blessing of an happy Eternity O blesse us with thy saving [...]aces, that we may by a regular, constant course of holy living at­ [...]aine to that most blessed end; and sanctisie all thy blessings unto [...] that we be comented with thy allowances and blessings, that [...] never murmure at, or envie thy blessings upon others, but that [...] patience we expect our portion in Heaven: and so blessed Lord, [...] our hearts with the sense of the glories and perfections, and [...] fading nothingnesse and emptiness [...] of the creatures, that with [...]cere and ardent affections of obedience and love, we may obey [...] serve and worship thee with reverence and godly feare. O let [...] in our addresses and approaches to thy glorious Majesty, seri­ously [Page 144]ineditate on thy presence, glories, and soveraigutly; on [...] merciet and goodnesse, and not dare rudely and undecently, to [...] into the presence of the Lord of the whole Earth. Then art [...] Lord both of our soules and bodies, to thee we offer both; [...] dies expect a portion and share in the rewards and blessing [...] Religion with our soules: O let them be yoked and joyned [...] ther in the exercises and offices of Religion; let us here live [...] the unity of thy Catholique Church, in the commantem of Sa [...] worshipping thee in spirit and truth, with an holy service in [...] beauty of holinesse, glorifying thee both in our bodies and soul [...] that when both shall be glorified with thee, we may to all Eter­nity with the Heavenly Quire of Angels and blessed Spirits, [...] that Psame of blessing, Glory, Prayse, Honour and Power, [...] unto him that sitteth on the Throne, and to the Lambe, [...] ever and ever, Amen.

IOSEPHS Memorandum's.

IOseph closeth up the Catalogue of the Patriarkes, he is the last mentioned of them; and the History of him conclude the first and choisest Monument of Antiquity, the Booke [...] Genesis, the prime and principall Record of antient Church story. This Joseph was famous and honourable for many excel­lent and eminent vertues, as we reade at large in that Booke the most principall are those some summed up by Ambr [...] [Page 145]lib. 1. Off cap. 17. Humilis fuit us (que) ad servitutens, verecundus us (que) ad fugam, patiens us (que) ad carcerem, remissor injuriae us (que) ad remunerationem: his Humility, Chastity, Patience, and Charity; to which we may adde, his singular Piety towards God, Fidelity to his Prince, though one that knew not God; his Clemency towards his Brethren: His Chastity was so rare, and is so fa­mously known, that all that know that History must acknow­ledge, that never any escaped so great temptations, with so much Innocency; For his Piety, it was sufficiently proved in every circustance of his life, he depending on God for all, recei­ving all from him, referring all unto him, and in all, magnify­ing and celebrating his name, as Gen. 39.9. Gen. 40.8.41.16. and 50 51.42.18.45.7. And for his Clemency, pitty, and goodnesse to his Brethren, no example can match him; and which was the crowne and complement of all he was faithfull to the end; as he begun, so he continued, so he ended: Qualis vita, as he lived, so he dyed, living he exercised his Faith in the works of Naturall and Morall Religion; and at his dying, he manifested it by his fore-knowledge of the Israelites depar­ture out of Egypt, and his Precept to bury his bones in Canaan, For. By Faith Joseph, &c.

The first Part.

• 1. How was this memoriall an act of Faith? Did not Jo­seph take it upon trust, from his Fathers relation? or was his Faith in this instance any better then an implicite Faith, or foun­ded on a humane testimony? for that Jacob fore-told his Chil­dren, what Joseph here mentions, and brings to their remem­brance, is plain from expresse Scripture, Gen. 48.21. But to this the answer is obvious; that though Jacob did deliver this prediction before Joseph and his Brethren; yet the same Spirit which dictated that revelation to Jacob might still reside with Joseph, and perhaps did discover more to him then to his Father; for in this particular, Josephs Prophesie seems more cleare and full; inasmuch as Jacob Gen. 48 21. foretells not the hard­ships and servitudes they were to endure in Egypt, and that after they should most mercifully and miraculously be delivered thence as Ioseph doth presage, Gen. 50 24. b [...]t onely tells them, that now they were in Egypt; and fore-tels them, they should [Page 146]be brought againe into the Land of their Fathers; no mention of a visitando Deus vos visitabit; God will visit you, in the for [...] ­mentioned place: Besides, Ioseph could not know that thi [...] Prophesie of his Fathers would be true, and so not re-assumes i [...] for a positive Doctrinall Truth, but by Faith; his Faith told him that his Father Iacob had this revealed to him by the Spirit [...] God, and therefore he ought to beleeve as firmely, as if the Spi­rit had immediately declared it to himselfe, (for its no matte [...] whether the Proposition be mediately or immediately revealed it is all one to the Beleever) and because he beleeved, he might speake, because his Brethren perhaps through for­getsulnesse or inadvertency minded it not. And it was [...] further act of Faith, That he endeavoured to promote and ex­ercise their Faith, by patience and toleration in their afflicted condition; and hope and expectancy of future deliverance for this is the meaning of those words, Visitande visitabit, God will surely and sharpely visit, suffer you to be sore oppressed [...] and therefore prepare, that ye may be able to stand in the e [...] day: and then, Ascendere vos faciet, he will promete and [...] ­vance you: and therefore assure your selves of a future prospe­rous condition; though this happened not till one hund [...] fifty five yeares after.
• 2. Why did he command them to carry his bones thither? [...] one place better then another? or were his bones to be [...] served and worshipped by them? The answer to the former In­terrogation may be this, That Ioseph did not command his bone [...] to be removed to Canaan, as though there had been some in­haerent holinesse in that place, more then others; but because he would signifie thereby his desire to be an Heire of the pro­mised, and of the Heavenly Country which it typified. To the second, take this solution; That Ioseph entended not his bone should be reserved to be carried about a severall set times, ei­ther for pompe, or ostentation, or veneration: but that hi [...] bones might be honourably enterred amongst his ancestors, [...] demonstrate his hope and confidence in the blessings of the Co­venant, that he desired to be joynt shater and copartner with them in those happinesses; and they were to be kept, that th [...] Egyptians remembring Ioseph, by this Monument left among [Page 147]them, should use his People and Kindred more respectively and courteously, the time of their abode among them. In summ [...] it was to declare, That he lived and died in the unity of that Church, in the Communion of those Saints, (this union of their bodies, being a symbole of that other union of their spirits, in one Lord, one Faith, one Covenant; for in Iesus Christ all Be­leevers are one body, and Members of one another) and that by hope he waited for a glorious Resurrection. For if the Bones of Ioseph had been reserved for veneration, certainly in some place we should have found that the Israelites did exhibite this honour to them; but no mention of any such practise in these places where mention is made of the buriall of his Bones; not in Exo. 13.19. where the departure of Israel out of Egypt is Registred: not in Iosh. 24 32. where their Possession of Canaan is specified; and then, if ever, (for this was the most likely time of all other) they would have worshipped them. The Israelites did onely what they were commanded, they carryed his Bones away with them, Exod 13.19. and afterwards buried them in Sichem, Iosh. 24 32. indeed that place he nominated not, they should be buried in, but left that particular to their discretion, who were to bury them; though that place they chose, both because they had given him a grant of it, and also because it fell out to be the Inheritance of his Sonnes; and thus also they buried Ioshua in Mount Ephraim, Iosh. 24.30.

The second Part.

• 1. By Faith Ioseph; and it was a most high and noble act of Faith in Ioseph, to overlooke all the seducements of Egypt, to slight all the tempations of Pharaohs Court, and fix his eyes and thoughts upon Canaan, and the future conditions of his Brethren, his Kinsmen according to the flesh, the Israelites; it seems much to surpasse the Faith of Iacob, for he had no Posses­sions in Egypt; but Ioseph was, Casars secundus. next to Pha­raoh in State, Power, and Dignity, and had acquired a great vast estate of Treasure and Honour; and therefore had not that temptation to looke for another Country for the establishment and promotion of his Children, as Iacob had; a carnall minde could not fancy how he should think of the departure of his Po­sterity out of Egypt, but with regret and reluctance, with sorrow [Page 148]and pensivenesse of minde; inasmuch as there they were hono­rably and richly seated and setled; so that this praeapprehension of their future departure, was both a notable effect of Faith, and pregnant proofe of the first description of Faith, (that is the subsistence, &c.) that he should neglect and disesteeme his pre­sent ample revenues and high preferments, for an estate in re­version, a share in Canaan so many yeares after: it was a good motive to perswade the rich men of the Hebrews, now in their persecuted condition, to undervalue and contemne their worldly. Possession, and to intend and ayme at the acquisition of a future, Inheritance in Heaven; and with David, Psal. 17.14.15. to over-look worldly prosperity, and behold the Face of God in Righteousnesse; and will also serve for a good admonition to all, who pretend to godlinesse and Religion that they be not sedu­ced with sinfull pleasures, or corrupted with worldly Profits or Preferments, to the dishonour and scandall of their Profession, the frustration of their hope, and destruction of themselves. What a miserable object it is, to see a good cause managed, and through this, bafled and marred by an evill man; the pretious holy Faith prosessed, by men of vile execrable lives: the truth prejudiced, by the wickednesse of its abettors; and Religion it selfe wronged▪ by the sensualities, filthinesses, idolatrous cove­tousnesses, and love of the world, which is dayly discovered in the greatest seeming sticklers for it. O let us never when we make for Canaan, look back to Egypt; let not the delicacies and enjoyments of Pharaohs Court lay off our affections from the pursuite of the Promised Land, the Heavenly Ierusalem; Non est consentanoum, qui metu non frangitur, eum frang [...] eupids a [...]e; nec qui invictum se à labore praest [...]eret, vi [...]ci à voluptate, said Tulli de Offl. lib. 1 pag 31. and if it be a shame for a magna­nimous spirit to be addicted to immoderate Pleasure and Pro­fit; certainly its a dishonour, and a misery too, for the pre­tenders to Faith, to be employed in designes and undertakings for the satisfaction of their irregular, extravagant, and disorde­red lusts and appetites.
• 2. His Faith appeared in this, That though the time of the accomplishment of the Promises was above a century; yet dying be looked upon it at hand, he would not have them to think of [Page 149]departing Egypt▪ till that the time of restitution come; and so untill then the order was, his Bones should stay in Egypt among them: Doubtlesse it was to admonish them againe, that they [...]hould not set their hearts on Egypt but think on the Land of their Inheritance, and not to anticipate or dispute the time, but [...]o waite patiently till God should be pleased to deliver them, and satisfie [...]heir hopes and desires: Faith is so zealous and cha­ritable that where it resides, it maketh the subject to abound, not onely to have a stake or treasure for himselfe, but to com­municate to others; it makes him industrious and sollicirous to promote Gods glory▪ and the edisication of his Church; not one­ [...]y for the rer [...] e of their life naturall, but even that also after death, these Memorandums or Breviates, may remaine among them▪ be helps and assistances to their Faith and Memories. This was Saint Pe [...]ers care and endeavour, as he reports of him­selfe, 2 Peter 1.14 13. I know my time &c. I will endeavour therefore &c and this was Iosephs thought and labour by the re­servation of his Coffin, to teach his Posterity to slight the de­lights and advantages of Ph [...]raohs Court, and to unite them­selves to the People of God. Thus we see Ioseph himselfe, not­withstanding the many pro [...]ocations and engagements to Egypt, still by Faith keeps himselfe uns [...]o [...]ted of the world▪ he walkes not onely wisely, but also piously in the middest of a crooked profane Generation; he retained the old principles and in­structions he had received in his Fathers house; and after the fruition of all the contentments Egypt could afford, yet to ac­knowledge them not the true desireables▪ but imaginary peri­shing vanities; and therefore perswades his Children never to think of them, but in their expectations and resolutions to quitt them▪ and to strive and purchase that Inheritance which they had in reversion, they should after so long time actually pos­sesse, which no man could take from them. And O that we would▪ like Ioseph, emply our pretious time, and happy oppor­tunities for the honour and repute of our Christian Profession, and for the advantages and benefit of all Christian People; that as Ioseph did, we may live well and so dye well: live unto the Lord and dye in the Lord and so rest from our labors N [...]w as Ioseph had a word of Prophesie, so have we a sure word of Pro­phesie, [Page 150]2 Pet. 1.19 even this, That though now for a season (if [...] ­be) we are in heavenesse through manifold temptations, &c. tem­ptation on the right hand, the promises, perswasions, slatteri [...] and complyances of the world; on the left, frownes, persec [...] on [...], scornings, and tribulations: yet these are for the tryall [...] our Faith, being much more precious, &c. the spirit of Christ tes [...] ­fying before-hand the sufferings of Christ, and of these after a [...] ­flictions of Christ which we are to suffer in our flesh, for [...] bodies sake the Church, Col. 1 14. and the glory which should follow; therefore we should gird up the loynes of our minds [...] sober, and hope to the end, (and he that hath this hope purifie [...] himselfe) for the grace that is brought unto us at the revelatio [...] of Jesus Christ; therefore we should take heed, lest there be [...] any of us an evill heart of unbeleife, in departing from t [...] living God, (and no more sad symptome of this, then that [...] are loth to depart out of Egypt, unwilling to forsake our [...] loved darling bosome sinnes, our pleasures and profits; we thi [...] not on the afflictions of Ioseph, we desire no fellowship with [...] Israel of God we travell not for our Calestiall Canaan) but [...] Ioseph did to his Children, so we should exhort one another day [...] whiles it is called to day, &c. and once more we ought to g [...] the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest at any t [...] we should let them flip, Heb. 2.1.2.3. and Heb 3.12.13.
• 3. Ioseph in the tendernsse of his affection premonish [...] and remembreth the Israelites of their hard servitude, and [...] their deliverance. Christ also in greatnesse of his love to us, had forewarned us what we shall expect from the world, and wh [...] we may receive from him, if we doe adhere to him, even mu [...] to the same purpose; In the world [...] shall have tribulation, (l [...] no godly man fancy the contrary) but be of good cheare, I ha [...] over come the world, John 16.33. and he overcame it not [...]o [...] himselfe, but for us, that when all the world lyes in wickednesse, in him we might have peace. And we know what th [...] Poet resolved, Sperat adversis metuit secundis alteram sort [...] bene praparatum pectus; if we doe not yeeld to, nor compl [...] with any temptation, but resist and oppose it, no adversity shall [...]fle our hopes, no prosperity shall corrupt our feare, loyalty and [...]edience to our Soveraigne Lord and Maker; and still [...] [Page 151]sends his Prophets unto us, admonishing and charging us in sea­ [...]on and out of season, not to trust in uncertain riches, not in more uncertain pleasures and honours, but to trust in the living God, who giveth us all things richly to enjoy, and at whose right hand there is honour and pleasure for evermore, and in whose presence is the fulnesse of joy.
• 4. Ioseph gave commandement concerning the buriall of his Bones; Buriall in a decent solmne manner, is an honour due to the bodies of our deceased Friends and Kinsfolks; and if occa­sion be) of any Christian neighbour. The Earth is a common field (wherein every man may chalenge his share and part when [...]he falls) for the bodies of dead Persons to be sowed in, where also they are to rest in peace, without trouble or molestation, till they appear, and spring forth again at the generall Resur­rection, 1 Cor. 15.
• 5. What Ioseph commanded, they observed; The commands of Superiors are to be obeyed, not onely for feare, but for Conscience sake. If they constitute or decree an Act or Sta­tute, for the regulation of disorders, or the advantages of hu­mane society, or the Publique Interest, or wherein they doe not oppose or contradict Gods Laws, they are to be religiously kept and observed; much more should we obey the Commandements of the Supreme Law giver in Heaven and Earth, our Lord and Creator; for to bring this home, reade and peruse the whole five and thirty Chapter of Ieremy. But these Children of Ioseph did more then he commanded expressely; of their own heads they buried him in Sichem, where God leaves his orders in generall, but determines not the particulars or instances; in those things, the Fathers of the Church have liberty to deter­mine, and their orders therein are to be observed; what is of Divine Institution in any Ordinance, is not alterable, is not capable of addition or diminution; but many circumstantialls for the decent and orderly performance of the Institution, are to be ordered by the guides and governors of the Church, ac­cording to the rules of Christian prudence, and the generall rules of the Word of God. In fome ca [...]es therefore to demand a particular warrant from Heaven, is presumption and folly, so long as the general order will supply that supposed defect; & even [Page 152] [...] every Christian, some circumstantialls are left to his dis [...]r [...] ­tion and prudence; as in private Prayer, whether it be do [...] sitting, standing, &c. is matter of counsell; onely we are t [...] observe the generall rule, to glorifie God in our bodies, as we [...] as spirits; and we use that posture which doth experimentalls most elevate our affections, and heighten our spirits.

The third Part.

GIve Eare, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Io­seph lik' a sheep, shew thy brightnesse, thou that sittest be­tween the Cherubims: Before all People stir up thy strength, a [...] come to help us. Turne us O God againe, and cause thy face [...] shine, that we may be saved. We hate wandred in desorts▪ fal [...] wayes, and still follow our own inventions: We are lost sheep, [...] astray, and wander to and fro as Sheep having no Shepherds. [...] thou the great Bishop and Shepherd of our soules, turne thee to [...] againe; returne us unto thee, and doe thou restore unto us [...] Shepherds and Pastors, that we may be gathered into one f [...]ll [...] Les not us want spirituall guides, which may make us rest it [...] greene Pastures, and may leade us by the still wa [...]ers, which m [...] restore our soules, and leade us in the paths of right [...]ousnesse; let thy Rod and thy Staffe comfort us. Be not angry O Lord about measure, neither remember iniquity for ev [...]r; see we bese [...]ch thu [...] behold we are all thy People, we are all thy People, and the Sheep of thy Pasture. Returne we beseech thee (O Lo [...]d) looke down from Heaven, and behold and visit this Vine, and the Vineyard th [...] thy right hand hath Planted; so we that are thy People, shall sing of thy prayses, and declare thy salvation from Generation to G [...] ­neration. And forasmuch as thou hast given us a sure Word of Prophesie to guide our feet in the wayes of peace, let us take the more earnest heed that this Word slip not from us: Let us alwayes remember what thou hast ordered and commanded, and what tho [...] hast [...]romised, that us prosperity corrupt us, and make us forget our duty; no adversity tempt us, that we relinquish our hopes: And continue unto us the Houses of thy Prophets and of thy Prophets Children. S [...]d forth Labourers into thy Harvest, Mo­ [...] of thy own making, and have their Mission from thee; [Page 153]and let not us despise the Word of Prophesie, lest we quench the Spirit; and of thy goodnesse bring us out of this Egypt first in our Affections, and then in our Persons, that we may rece [...]ve our Inheritance in the Calestiall Canaan, with Abra­ham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of Heaven. Grant us this, and what else is necessary for the scattered Flocke, thy Catholique Church, or for our selves, for the Merits and Mediation of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ the Righte­ous; to whom with the Eternall Father and blessed Spirit, be all Honour and Glory, now and over, Amen.